The Cleveland Browns have traded defensive end Myles Garrett, who has been with the team since he was selected as the first overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, to the Los Angeles Rams.
As reported by NFL insider Adam Schefter for ESPN, the Browns send Garrett, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, to the Rams in exchange for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, and other draft-pick options. The deal is still under negotiation, according to Schefter, who reported on the trade alongside Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
The 30-year-old’s trade to the Rams is one of the biggest trades in the history of the league. It indicates that the Rams have high hopes of making it to the Super Bowl, which will be hosted at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Sources told ESPN that the Browns didn’t appear too enthused about the idea of trading Garrett, but the Rams were “persistent” in their pursuit of securing the superstar.
Garrett recently signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Browns, with a no-trade clause, making him one of the few defensive players in the history of the NFL to have such a clause. He was expected to remain with the Browns until at least 2030. Garrett did not take part in the Browns’ offseason program or meet face-to-face with the team’s new coach, Todd Monken, but reportedly kept in contact with the team during his vacation, which included trips to Korea and Japan.
The Rams’ desire to see Garrett on the team comes not long after the franchise traded for Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie, and signed his former teammate, Jaylen Watson.
