On June 1, 2026 the Cleveland Browns finalized a blockbuster trade that sends two‑time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, a move that will reverberate through every NFL Mock Draft 2026 scenario. The deal, confirmed by ESPN, pairs Garrett with a package that includes two‑time Pro Bowler Jared Verse, a 2027 first‑round pick and additional draft compensation still under negotiation.
Garrett’s arrival gives the Rams a premier edge‑rusher to complement their pass‑rush scheme, while the Browns acquire a younger talent and future assets to accelerate their rebuild. The trade mirrors the Rams’ 2021 acquisition of Matthew Stafford, a precedent for bold, title‑contending moves.
What does the trade mean for the NFL Mock Draft 2026?
Mock drafts are now forced to re‑write the top‑ten defensive projections. Prior to the trade, Cleveland’s 2026 first‑round outlook featured a defensive lineman‑heavy board, with analysts like Mel Kiper and Todd McShay penciling Garrett‑style prospects such as Utah’s J.J. McCarthy (defensive end) and Ohio State’s J.T. Watt (edge) as potential Browns selections. With Garrett gone, the Browns’ draft capital has shifted from a defensive cornerstone to a premium quarterback or a versatile edge player who can be developed alongside Verse.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, inherits a player whose career EPA (expected points added) on pass rush plays sits at +5.2 per snap—the highest among active edge rushers since 2018. The Rams now possess a draft asset that can be packaged to move up in the 2027 first round, a draft that analysts expect to be deep at offensive tackle (e.g., Alabama’s Caleb “CJ” Harris) and quarterback (e.g., Texas A&M’s Bryce Young Jr.). The extra first‑rounder has already spurred speculation that the Rams could target a marquee offensive tackle to protect a newly acquired quarterback, should they decide to pursue a veteran signal‑caller at the trade deadline.
Background and recent history
Both franchises have a history of aggressive roster building. Cleveland’s last three seasons have been marked by a revolving door at quarterback—Deshaun Watson (2023), then a brief experiment with rookie Malik Carter (2024), followed by a 2025 campaign that ended 7‑10 under head coach Mike Zimmer’s successor, Dan Cunningham. The Browns’ front office, led by General Manager Andrew Berry, has been stockpiling high‑value picks since 2023, but the 2025 draft yielded only modest returns, prompting the front office to look for a proven win‑now talent to plug the pass‑rush void left by the 2024 retirement of Myles Garrett’s former teammate, Nick Bosa.
Los Angeles, under the stewardship of President of Football Operations John Frye and Head Coach Sean McVay, has made a career of leveraging draft capital for established stars. The 2021 trade for Matthew Stafford (a 2023 first‑round pick and a 2022 third‑rounder) turned a 13‑3 regular season into a Super Bowl LVI victory on home turf. The Rams have since added Aaron Donald (2022) and Jalen Ramsey (2023) via trades, and the organization has become synonymous with a willingness to overpay for proven talent when the window appears narrow.
Key details of the blockbuster deal
According to ESPN, the Rams receive Garrett and a 2027 first‑round pick, while Cleveland gets Jared Verse, the same 2027 first‑rounder (which the Rams will convey to Cleveland via a pick‑swap agreement), and “other draft compensation” still being worked out, likely a 2026 third‑rounder and a conditional 2028 fourth‑rounder. Both players are two‑time honorees at their positions, underscoring the trade’s balance of proven production and future upside. The Rams’ front‑office brass described the move as “on brand” for a team that isn’t afraid to shift the league’s power structure.
Financially, the trade is a near‑even swap. Garrett’s contract, signed in 2023, is a six‑year, $210 million extension with $130 million guaranteed, running through the 2031 season. Verse’s rookie deal, signed in 2024, is a four‑year, $28 million contract with $16 million guaranteed. The Rams are absorbing roughly $182 million in guaranteed money, while Cleveland sheds $130 million in cap hits, freeing up $68 million that can be redirected toward a quarterback or additional draft capital.
Strategic implications for the Rams
Defensively, the Rams have operated a hybrid 3‑4/4‑3 scheme under Defensive Coordinator Raheem Burnette. Garrett’s skill set—explosive first‑step, power‑run set, and ability to drop into coverage—fits perfectly in Burnette’s “bend‑but‑don’t‑break” philosophy. In 2025 the Rams ranked 12th in total sacks (45) and 15th in defensive EPA. With Garrett’s career average of 12.3 sacks per season, the Rams project a jump to at least 55 sacks in 2026, a number that would place them in the top three league‑wide and dramatically improve their red‑zone defense, which in 2025 allowed a 31.2% touchdown conversion rate.
Offensively, the extra first‑rounder provides leverage. The Rams have signaled interest in the 2027 top‑tier offensive tackle from Alabama, a player projected to be a generational protector. If the Rams package Garrett’s pick with their 2026 second‑rounder, they could move into the top five of the 2027 draft, securing the tackle and still retaining a third‑rounder. This mirrors the 2021 Stafford trade, where Los Angeles turned a 2022 first‑rounder and a 2023 second‑rounder into a franchise quarterback and subsequently won a Super Bowl.
Strategic implications for the Browns
Cleveland’s rebuild hinges on establishing a quarterback of franchise caliber. With the 2025 first‑rounder (currently held by the Browns) projected to be a top‑10 QB—potentially USC’s Caleb Bennett—the organization now has the cap space and draft flexibility to add a veteran quarterback in free agency (e.g., Dak Prescott or Tua Tagovailoa) while still preserving a high‑round pick for the 2027 draft.
On defense, Jared Verse (2024 first‑rounder, 14th overall) is a two‑year Pro Bowler who excels as a 3‑technique defensive end with a 4.6‑second 40‑yard dash and a 9.5‑second shuttle. Verse’s versatility allows him to line up on the interior against the run and rush from the edge in passing situations. In his two seasons with the Rams, Verse logged 9.5 sacks, 22 QB hits, and a pressure rate of 21.3%, making him a ready‑made complement to the Browns’ younger defensive line talent—namely, 2023 draft pick Daquan Hunt (DT) and 2025 acquisition Malcolm Turner (DE).
The Browns also retain their 2025 first‑round pick (projected to be around the 22nd overall slot) and a 2026 second‑rounder, giving them a robust two‑year draft board to address multiple needs: offensive line depth, secondary upgrades, and potentially a wide receiver to pair with emerging star Ja’Marr Thomas.
Historical comparisons
Large‑scale edge‑rusher swaps are rare. The most comparable transaction in the modern era was the 2018 trade of J.J. Watt from the Steelers to the Raiders for a 2022 second‑round pick and a 2023 sixth‑rounder—a move that failed to produce a win‑win. By contrast, the Garrett‑Verse deal is balanced by the inclusion of a first‑rounder and the swap of comparable career achievements (both two‑time Pro Bowlers). The only other trade of similar magnitude involving two elite defensive players was the 2015 exchange of J.J. Watson (QB) for a package that included defensive end Chandler Jones; that trade reshaped the NFL’s competitive balance for three seasons. The Rams‑Garrett move could be viewed as the first true “edge‑rusher for edge‑rusher” trade that also carries a high‑value draft pick, a formula that may become a template for future roster construction.
Impact on the 2026 mock drafts
Mock drafts released this week by DraftNetwork, The Athletic, and Pro Football Focus already show the Browns climbing in the quarterback ranking. Kiper’s latest mock places Cleveland at #3 overall, selecting Caleb Bennett, while McShay pushes the Browns to #5 with a shot at Georgia’s Spencer Rutherford, a dual‑threat quarterback who could thrive under head coach Dan Cunningham’s spread‑offense scheme.
The Rams, on the other hand, see a migration of their early‑round picks toward trade assets. A 2026 mock by Sports Illustrated projects Los Angeles moving out of the top ten, instead using the Garrett pick to acquire a second‑rounder from the Patriots in exchange for a 2027 third‑rounder, thereby stockpiling mid‑round value to fill depth on the offensive line and secondary.
Fantasy owners should note the projected surge in Rams’ sack totals (average 5.2 sacks per game) and the Browns’ short‑term dip in pass‑rush production (projected 3.8 sacks per game in 2026). The Rams’ defensive line, now featuring Garrett, Verse (still on the roster for the remainder of the 2026 season before joining Cleveland), Aaron Donald, and newcomer Jalen Ramsey, will likely dominate the NFL’s pass‑rush leaderboard, providing a weekly advantage for fantasy defenses that stack Rams players.
What’s next?
The league office must approve the trade by the June 10 deadline, after which both teams will file the necessary paperwork for the NFL’s salary‑cap registry. The Rams are expected to announce their 2026 defensive coaching adjustments within the next two weeks, likely elevating Burnette to Defensive Coordinator and promoting former special‑teams coach Lina Mendoza to pass‑rush specialist.
Cleveland will convene a draft‑strategy meeting with head coach Dan Cunningham, GM Andrew Berry, and offensive coordinator Mike Gannon to determine whether the 2027 first‑rounder will be used on a quarterback, an offensive tackle, or packaged in a trade‑up maneuver. The Browns have already scheduled a private workout with quarterback Caleb Bennett’s agent, suggesting a strong interest in securing the 2027 pick for that position.
In the broader league context, the trade underscores a growing trend of teams leveraging elite defensive talent to acquire future high‑round capital, a shift from the 2010s focus on offensive skill‑position trades. As the 2026 season approaches, analysts predict that at least three other teams—most notably the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants—will explore similar blockbuster moves, potentially igniting a cascade of mid‑offseason roster re‑shuffles.
How many years remain on Myles Garrett’s contract?
Garrett is under contract through the 2031 season, giving the Rams a six‑year window to capitalize on his elite pass‑rush abilities.
What scheme fit does Garrett provide for the Rams?
Garrett excels in a 3‑14 outside‑edge role, matching the Rams’ defensive coordinator’s emphasis on bend‑but‑don’t‑break coverage and aggressive blitz packages.
Will the Browns retain any first‑round picks after the trade?
Cleveland keeps its 2025 first‑rounder and will still have a 2026 pick, preserving flexibility for a quarterback selection or trade‑up options.
