Rams secure Garrett in blockbuster trade, shifting Super Bowl odds
The Cleveland Browns receive significant future assets to address quarterback needs, while the Rams aim to maximise the remaining career years of Matthew Stafford.
The Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns have finalised a trade sending defensive end Myles Garrett to Los Angeles in exchange for outside linebacker Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick. The transaction, reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday, marks a significant restructuring of both franchises. Garrett, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year coming off a record-breaking 23-sack season, joins the Rams as they have become favourites to win the Super Bowl.
The move allows the Browns to acquire a young, elite pass rusher and additional draft capital to address their quarterback needs. General manager Andrew Berry stated the team hopes to finalise the deal in the coming hours, though he did not confirm the trade directly. For the Rams, the acquisition aims to maximise the remaining career years of quarterback Matthew Stafford. This strategy was facilitated by the Rams’ decision to draft quarterback Caleb Simpson at No. 13 in the 2025 draft, which provided the flexibility to trade their 2027 first-round pick.
Garrett’s arrival coincides with a broader defensive overhaul in Los Angeles. The Rams revamped their secondary this spring by trading for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and signing cornerback Jaylen Watson. As of Monday afternoon, the Rams’ odds to win the Super Bowl at DraftKings Sportsbook jumped from +800 to +600, making them favourites to win the NFC and the NFC West. Garrett’s contract includes a $29.2 million option bonus due seven days before the start of the 2026 regular season; the Browns have not yet paid this, meaning they will incur significant dead-cap charges if the trade is processed post-June 1.
Analyst Seth Walder graded the trade as a massive return for Cleveland but argued it is not good long-term team building for the Rams due to the cost and the drop-off from Garrett to Verse. Garrett, who has the third-highest pass rush win rate among edge defenders since entering the NFL in 2017, will become the third player in NFL history to win Defensive Player of the Year and play the following season with a different team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The Browns’ decision reflects a pivot from their recent struggles, ending the tenure of a cornerstone player who lamented the team’s performance during his eight-year pro career. While Garrett’s individual metrics remain elite, the Browns now possess the draft assets to target top quarterback prospects in the 2027 class, including Arch Manning and Dante Moore. The Rams, meanwhile, have added a player with equal gravity to Aaron Donald, aiming to build a defensive unit capable of supporting Stafford’s final seasons.
