The NFL world is in a frenzy following the news of the Los Angeles Rams trading for the Cleveland Browns’ two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett. The Rams are sending over Pro Bowl edge Jared Verse and a 2027 first-round pick, with other draft compensation still being discussed. This trade alters the entire Rams’ season and Garrett’s career.

For the Browns, it helps them get younger and more capital to attack this rebuild head-on. Believe it or not, Garrett is a Ram, of all teams. A team that just went on a run to the NFC Championship Game and was a couple of plays away from winning it. Weirdly, it makes sense for both sides. Here’s why.

Los Angeles Rams

As previously mentioned, the Rams were a game away from making the Super Bowl. They’re clearly in a “win now” mode, especially with reigning MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford, who doesn’t have a lot of time left. Garrett is in his prime and just broke the single-season sack record with 23 this past season. As good as Verse has been for the Rams, Garrett exceeds him by a wide margin.

The Rams’ defense as a whole was one of the better pass-rush units throughout the year. This team ranked fifth in quarterback pressure percentage with 38 and averaged 21 quarterback pressures a game during the regular season. That number jumped to 27 in the postseason, with Verse leading the team with 20 total.

Not only is he more dominant off the edge, but he’ll free up other edge rushers for the Rams. Garrett gets double-teamed on more than 55 percent of his snaps, giving Braden Fiske, Byron Young, and Josaiah Stewart more one-on-one opportunities.

The ironic part of all this is that Rams general manager Les Snead got pushback for drafting quarterback Ty Simpson in the 2026 NFL Draft. The move was confusing at the time because the Rams were a play away from beating the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship. Why draft for the future? Now all that criticism can be put to bed.

Frick them picks.

It’s the motto the Rams have lived by under Snead. Now they leave this offseason with Trent McDuffie, Garrett, and a quarterback of the future.

Not bad.

Cleveland Browns

Everyone will be quick to criticize Brown for making a move like this.

Honestly, it makes sense.

The Browns are clearly in a rebuilding window, and Garrett doesn’t fit their timeline. It’s the same reason the Las Vegas Raiders tried to trade star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby earlier this offseason. If a star player doesn’t fit the team’s timeline, why keep them around? It’s a question Browns general manager Andrew Berry asked himself, and he ended up making the move.

A key part of all of this was the Browns modifying Garrett’s contract to delay the option bonuses until seven days before the start of the regular season. It made it easier for him to trade, which enabled the Rams to come calling.

The compensation isn’t final yet, but the Browns get Verse, who has led the NFL in total quarterback pressures the past two seasons with 189 (Reg+Post). He won the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and is on track to become one of the league’s best as an edge rusher. He fits the Browns’ rebuild timeline and can develop alongside other young players like Mason Graham.

The 2027 first-round pick is the other intriguing part of this, and it’ll likely be a late first-round pick. The Browns will have two first-round picks in back-to-back drafts, giving Berry the ammunition to build up this roster.

What should excite Browns fans the most is how this team has drafted in the past two years. Not only do they have the past two NFL Defensive Rookies of the Year in Verse and Carson Schwesinger, but they also have other young players such as Harold Fannin, Spencer Fano, and KC Concepcion.

Cleveland is a young team with a lot of upside. Add Verse, one of the league’s best young players, and two more first-round picks in 2027, and the Browns have a bright future.

The Browns could be a dangerous team in a couple of years.