The Los Angeles Rams have acquired two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns in one of the NFL’s biggest offseason trades, sending standout edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft selection, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round selection from Los Angeles. The agreement is subject to Garrett successfully passing a routine physical assessment.
The move comes months after Garrett publicly expressed a desire to compete for a championship, having grown dissatisfied with Cleveland’s trajectory following consecutive losing seasons, which resulted in an 8-26 record across the past two years. He previously requested a trade following the 2024 season but ultimately signed a four-year, $204.8 million extension that featured a no-trade clause, giving him control over any prospective relocation. The contract was structured to include a $40 million average annual salary and $122.8 million in guarantees. Cleveland had previously maintained it would not move the veteran defender, but ultimately agreed to a package centered around Verse, one of the league’s most promising young edge rushers.
Garrett, 30, established a new NFL single-season milestone last year by recording 23 sacks, surpassing Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt who previously held the record with 22.5 sacks. Since being drafted first overall by Cleveland in 2017, where he has spent his entire nine-year career, he has accumulated 125.5 sacks, 413 pressures, and 149 tackles for loss, leading all active players in those categories over that period. He leaves the franchise as its all-time leader in sacks and remains one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive players. The six-time All-Pro and 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year recorded 14 sacks last season, extending a streak of seven consecutive years with at least 10 sacks.
Verse, 25, leaves Los Angeles after a highly successful start in his rookie year. He captured the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2024 and secured a Pro Bowl selection last year after registering 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Originally selected by the Rams in the first round of the 2024 draft to help replace the retired Aaron Donald, Verse has generated 99 total pressures over his first two league seasons.
The transaction marks a rare moment in league history. It represents the first instance since 1997 where a reigning Defensive Player of the Year was traded in the subsequent offseason, matching the move of defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield from San Francisco.
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