The Cleveland Browns have traded superstar pass-rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, ending a turbulent offseason that had left the franchise’s best player surrounded by speculation.
Garrett, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most dominant players of his generation, is heading to Los Angeles in a blockbuster deal that gives him a clearer path to contend for a Super Bowl.
The Rams, who have never been shy about taking big swings under general manager Les Snead, are landing a game-wrecking edge rusher to headline their defense. ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that the Browns are receiving Pro Bowl pass-rusher Jared Verse, a first-round pick and additional draft-pick compensation that was still being negotiated.
The move comes one offseason after Garrett requested a trade, making clear at the time that his priority was competing for a Super Bowl. He eventually backed off that stance and agreed to a four-year, $160 million extension with the Browns. But the long-term commitment did not end the uncertainty.
Garrett now joins a Rams team built to contend after falling just short last season. Los Angeles reached the NFC title game before losing 31-27 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Browns Had Denied Myles Garrett Trade Interest
For Cleveland, the move is a franchise-altering reset. Garrett has been the centerpiece of the Browns’ defense since arriving as the No. 1 overall pick in 2017. He leaves as the face of one of the league’s top defensive fronts and one of the most accomplished players in team history.
Garrett was coming off another elite season and had remained productive even as the Browns struggled to find stability around him. But the situation became increasingly difficult to ignore in recent months, with his absence from voluntary workouts, questions about his future and a reworked contract that made a post-June 1 trade more financially realistic.
The Browns had publicly insisted they were not looking to move Garrett. General manager Andrew Berry had pushed back on the idea that the contract adjustment was tied to a potential trade, calling him a “career Brown.”
Garrett had not been around the team during voluntary workouts and had yet to fully establish himself with new head coach Todd Monken. That created an awkward dynamic for a first-year coach trying to build a new program around a defense that was supposed to remain Cleveland’s foundation.
Jared Verse Gives Browns Myles Garrett Replacement
Verse gives Cleveland a young, high-upside pass-rusher who can immediately become one of the faces of the defense.
Verse, 25, was selected by the Rams with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Florida State. He made an immediate impact in Los Angeles, winning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and quickly becoming one of the foundational pieces of the Rams’ post-Aaron Donald defense.
Verse — an Ohio-native —followed up his strong rookie season with another productive year in 2025. He started all 17 games and finished with 7.5 sacks, 35 solo tackles and three forced fumbles. He has 12 sacks and five forced fumbles through his first two NFL seasons.
Browns Get Questionable Return in Myles Garrett Blockbuster With Rams