The Los Angeles Rams traded for Myles Garrett. He is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. The Rams are now the team to beat in the NFC.
Cleveland dealt Garrett to Los Angeles on June 1 for pass rusher Jared Verse and multiple draft picks. The Browns received a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick. Los Angeles also reworked Garrett’s contract, giving him a $6.5 million raise for 2026.
His new cap number for 2026 is $8.1 million. That ranks 40th among edge rushers. This is the most under-market deal in the league.
Why the Rams Made the Trade
Sean McVay has been trying to build a defense for years. Aaron Donald is retired. Verse was a promising young rusher but not yet elite. The Rams needed a game-changer, and Garrett is the biggest one on the planet.
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula now has the best defensive weapon in football. That changes everything. It changes coverage schemes, blitz packages, and how offensive coordinators plan for the Rams every week.
Matthew Stafford is 38 but still capable of running McVay’s offense at a high level. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are elite receivers. Kyren Williams is a workhorse back. The offense was already Top 10 in the league. Now the defense is elite too.
What Cleveland Got
The Browns did not want to trade Garrett. He forced their hand by requesting a move earlier in the year. Cleveland’s front office decided that a healthy return package was better than watching him walk in free agency in two years.
Jared Verse is 24, has legitimate All-Pro upside, and comes with three years of team control on his rookie contract. He is not Myles Garrett, but he is a franchise pass rusher on the come-up.
The picks give the Browns flexibility to add players in future drafts. They can trade the 2027 first to a QB-needy team if they want to add another quarterback. They can package the picks to move up. They can hold onto them and build organically. General manager Andrew Berry has runway.
The NFC Just Reset
The Rams are now the NFC favorites. The Eagles have Jalen Hurts and a solid defense, but Philadelphia lost some defensive pieces this offseason. The 49ers are still building around Brock Purdy. The Cowboys are the Cowboys.
Los Angeles has a top-five roster on both sides of the ball. They have a Hall of Fame head coach in Sean McVay. They have a proven quarterback in Stafford. They now have the best defensive player in football.
If the Rams stay healthy, they are the team to beat. Vegas already moved them to the NFC’s shortest odds. Fantasy football players are pumping up Puka Nacua. Bettors are hammering the over on Rams wins.
The move is a Super Bowl bet. McVay knows his window is now. Stafford is not getting younger. Garrett is at his peak. LA went for it, and the rest of the NFC has to answer.
Get comfortable with the Rams as the top dog. It is going to be a fun ride.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
