The Los Angeles Rams are finalizing a massive blockbuster trade to acquire two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns. Under the terms of the developing agreement, the Browns will receive standout defensive end Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft pick, and potential additional draft compensation that the teams are currently negotiating. The transaction shook up the NFL landscape immediately as two marquee defensive anchors swap franchises.
The trade was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. Garrett, who is 30 years old, arrives in Los Angeles with an elite resume featuring seven Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro selections. He is fresh off a spectacular season where he secured his second Defensive Player of the Year award and established a new NFL single-season record by racking up 23 sacks.
Cleveland quietly adjusted Garrett’s contract earlier this offseason, a maneuver that insider circles noted opened the door for a potential departure. Garrett had previously signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension with the Browns last year. By moving their superstar edge rusher now, Cleveland pivots toward a younger defensive identity anchored by Verse, who was named the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned a Pro Bowl nod last season.
Los Angeles faced stiff competition to secure the superstar defender. The Seattle Seahawks were deeply involved in a fierce bidding war until the final hours of negotiations. Furthermore, the Philadelphia Eagles reportedly made a massive push for Garrett earlier during the draft, going as far as offering star wide receiver A.J. Brown in a proposed trade package. Rams General Manager Les Snead ultimately outbid the field to pair Garrett with pass rusher Byron Young.
The blockbuster move follows an aggressive defensive overhaul by the Rams front office this offseason. Los Angeles previously traded a first-round selection to the Kansas City Chiefs for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and signed his former teammate, cornerback Jaylen Watson, in free agency. Adding Garrett completely resets the defensive hierarchy in the NFC West.
According to betting market updates from DraftKings, the transaction caused an immediate shift in NFL futures. The Rams surged to become the outright Super Bowl favorites, with their championship odds dropping down to . The adjustment places Los Angeles ahead of the Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens, who sit tied behind them at odds.