Myles Garrett Rams Debut: Star Edge Rusher ‘Better Than Advertised’ at First Training Camp
Myles Garrett is a Los Angeles Ram now, and his first practice with the team told everyone exactly what they were getting.
The former Cleveland Browns superstar edge rusher made his Rams debut at training camp this week, and the reviews have been through the roof. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula said Garrett “definitely lived up to” expectations. NFL insider Albert Breer said the former Defensive Player of the Year has been “believe it or not, better than advertised” since arriving in Los Angeles.
Garrett, coming off a season in which he set the NFL’s all-time single-season sack record with 23, was traded to the Rams for multiple draft picks including a 2027 first-rounder and edge rusher Jared Verse. Cleveland got the future assets. Los Angeles got a top-three defender in the sport.
Why This Trade Was a Steal
Trading a first-round pick and a young edge rusher for a 30-year-old superstar is not a bargain on paper. But when the 30-year-old is Myles Garrett, the math changes. Garrett is arguably the best defensive player in football right now, and he pairs perfectly with the Rams’ existing defensive infrastructure.
Aaron Donald retired and left a hole in the interior of the Rams’ defense. Chris Shula rebuilt around younger pieces. Garrett walks in and gives the pass rush a Hall of Fame-level anchor on the edge. Combine that with the possibility of Donald returning from retirement, and the Rams could field one of the most dominant defensive fronts in modern NFL history.
Los Angeles Was Already the Super Bowl Favorite
The Rams were true Super Bowl contenders last season. DraftKings Sportsbook had them at +800 to win the Super Bowl before the Garrett trade. After the deal, the line moved to +600. That is a massive shift for a trade that happens in the middle of the summer.
Matt Stafford’s offense is loaded. Puka Nacua is one of the best receivers in football. The offensive line has been rebuilt. And now the defense has a legitimate All-Pro at the game’s most valuable defensive position. Sean McVay has everything he needs to run it back to the Super Bowl.
What Cleveland Gets in Return
The Browns did not lose this trade. Jared Verse is a young, ascending talent who could develop into a Pro Bowl-level edge rusher. The 2027 first-round pick becomes ammunition for Cleveland to either find its next quarterback or add another building block. The Browns are rebuilding, and getting real assets for their aging star was the smart move.
Cleveland fans will still miss Garrett. There is no replacing what he did for that defense. But the front office made a rational decision, and the return is going to look better in a couple years than it does today.
The AD Comeback Angle
Aaron Donald retired after the 2023 season, but he has left the door open to a return. The idea of Donald and Garrett lining up on the same defensive line for the Rams is the kind of scenario that keeps offensive coordinators up at night. It might not happen. But if it does, the NFL would need to change how it accounts for defensive fronts.
Even without Donald, Garrett makes the Rams a top-five defense on paper. And with him healthy for a full season, the pass rush has the ability to define games. Sean McVay has a Super Bowl-caliber roster with a legitimate shot at hoisting another Lombardi.
Los Angeles is going to be the story of the 2026 NFL season. And Garrett is the reason.
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.
