The Los Angeles Rams went for gold when they traded Jared Verse and three draft picks for Myles Garrett.
More than two months later, Verse made clear the business side of the league hasn’t made the move any easier to digest.
Appearing on “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd, the Cleveland Browns edge rusher was asked whether being dealt for a player of Garrett’s stature softened the blow.
“Getting traded period feels terrible,” Verse said. “It don’t make you feel better just because it was Myles Garrett.”
Ultimately, the Rams landed the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, but they also moved on from one of the league’s best young pass rushers after only two seasons.
Verse Says Garrett Swap Still Stung
GettyBEREA, OHIO – JUNE 03: Jared Verse #8 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill during the Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 03, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Verse quickly became vital to the Rams’ defense after arriving as the No. 19 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year, earned Pro Bowl selections in each of his first two seasons and totaled 12 sacks over that span.
So, it came as a surprise when he was dealt in a June 1 deal that sent Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third-rounder to the Browns.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry later called Verse a “huge part” of the return and said any Garrett deal needed to include a young, cost-controlled star at a premium position along with premium draft capital.
Verse didn’t hide his disappointment right after the trade, either.
During his introductory stretch with Cleveland, he said the move put a “chip on my shoulder” and promised the Browns would get the best version of him.
Being exchanged for Garrett is about as strong an endorsement of a player’s value as a trade can offer, but Verse’s point was that the comparison doesn’t change the experience of suddenly leaving an organization you enjoy.
Rams Bet on Garrett Now Over Verse’s Future
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: Myles Garrett #95 of the Los Angeles Rams trains during the Los Angeles Rams Training Camp at Loyola Marymount University on July 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Los Angeles understood the price.
Garrett entered the offseason after setting an NFL single-season record with 23 sacks in 2025, pushing his career total to 125.5.
The Rams were willing to sacrifice Verse’s youth and a package of picks to add a defender they believed could change the complexion of a championship-caliber roster as soon as he steps on the field.
Cowherd was among those who backed the gamble from the start.
Following the deal, he called the Rams the “overwhelming Super Bowl favorite” and argued Garrett was worth the cost.
Verse was already productive and still had room to grow, but it’s tough to pass on Garrett’s game-wrecking production few defenders have reached.
The deal also showed how highly Cleveland valued Verse.
Berry said the Browns’ position changed once the Rams were willing to include him, making the former first-rounder more than a secondary piece attached to the draft picks.
For the Rams, that was the cost of upgrading from a rising star to the reigning top defensive player in football.
But the trade’s measure of success will revolve around Garrett’s performances when critical games commence.
LA Rams’ Myles Garrett Blockbuster Prompts Honest Jared Verse Admission