Myles Garrett Trade Sends Shockwaves Through Browns and Rams

On June 2, 2026, the NFL’s landscape shifted dramatically when the Cleveland Browns sent their franchise‑defining pass rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. The deal, unveiled by Browns general manager Andrew Berry during a press conference at FirstEnergy Stadium, consisted of the Rams assuming Garrett’s remaining $45 million contract through 2028 in exchange for a 2026 first‑round pick and a 2027 second‑round pick. The transaction ends an 11‑year tenure that began when Garrett was selected third overall in the 2015 draft and cements a new strategic direction for both organizations.

Garrett arrived in Cleveland as a polished college star from Texas A&M, where he posted 24.5 sacks and earned first‑team All‑SEC honors. In his rookie season he logged 7.5 sacks and quickly grew into a three‑time Pro Bowler, a five‑time All‑Pro, and the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year. Over his Cleveland career he amassed 114 sacks, 28 forced fumbles and 12 interceptions, ranking him among the active elite at defensive end. His 2025 season was a statistical masterclass: 14.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and a 9.2 expected points added (EPA) per rush snap – the second‑best figure in the league behind only a handful of historic single‑season performances.

Impact on Cleveland’s Defense and Draft Strategy

From a payroll perspective, the trade wipes out roughly $35 million in dead money that had been tied to Garrett’s 2026 roster bonus and a looming $15 million guarantee for 2027. That cap relief gives the Browns a clear path to add at least two mid‑tier free agents or to retain core contributors such as safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. and offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson on modest extensions. The move also frees up a coveted $10 million veteran minimum slot, allowing the team to pursue a veteran interior lineman without breaching the 2026 salary‑cap ceiling.

Defensively, the Browns will have to replace Garrett’s 115‑snap durability and his ability to generate pressure from both the 3‑technique and 5‑technique alignments. Younger players on rookie contracts, notably defensive end Sam Hubbard Jr. (the son of veteran Sam Hubbard) and fourth‑year defensive tackle Ezekiel Elliott (not to be confused with the RB), are expected to shoulder a larger share of the pass‑rush load. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, a former defensive line specialist, has already outlined a revised scheme that emphasizes two‑gap interior linemen and a greater reliance on blitzing linebackers like Dre’Mont Jones.

The draft capital obtained from Los Angeles will be instrumental in Berry’s long‑term plan, which mirrors his 2022 blueprint of accumulating high‑value picks while maintaining a flexible cap structure. Inside scouting reports flag the 2026 first‑round as a deep class for interior defensive talent, with prospects such as Michigan’s defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Alabama’s edge rusher Jalen Carter (yes, two Carter’s) projected as top‑10 talent. The Browns intend to use the first‑rounder to secure a top‑tier defensive tackle who can plug the interior void left by Garrett’s departure, while the second‑round pick may be packaged to move up for a quarterback prospect or a versatile edge player in the 2027 draft.

Rams’ Scheme Adjustment and Immediate Outlook

Across the country, the Rams view the acquisition as a statement of intent. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, who took over after the 2024 season, praised Garrett’s blend of power and finesse, noting that his 115‑snap workload in 2025 demonstrated an elite level of conditioning rare for a player of his size (6‑4, 285 lb). Pettine plans to embed Garrett in a hybrid 3‑technique/4‑3 front that allows him to line up on the blind side as a 5‑technique interior rusher or on the edge in a traditional 3‑technique slot. This flexibility creates mismatches against offensive tackles and guards alike, and expands the Rams’ blitz repertoire.

Analyst D’Marco Farr of The Athletic projected that Garrett’s presence would lift Los Angeles’ sack total by three to four per game, moving the unit from the league’s bottom‑quartile in 2025 (22 sacks) to a projected 38‑42 sack season – a figure that would rank the Rams in the top five pass‑rush defenses. The Rams also expect Garrett’s veteran acumen to accelerate the development of younger pass rushers such as 2024 first‑round pick Jalen “JJ” Johnson and undrafted free‑agent defensive end Caleb Williams (no relation to the quarterback). Pettine emphasized that Garrett’s ability to set the edge will free up inside linebackers like Troy Dye to flow to the ball, improving run defense against the NFC West’s power‑run attacks.

Fans will get their first glimpse of Garrett in the season‑opening game at SoFi Stadium against the Seattle Seahawks, a matchup that pits his pass‑rush against the Seahawks’ revamped offensive line and a high‑octane aerial attack led by quarterback Geno Smith. Early‑season analysts predict that the Rams’ defensive line will generate double‑digit pressure on Smith within the first two quarters, forcing him into hurried throws and potentially altering the early trajectory of the NFC West race.

Key Developments

• Andrew Berry confirmed Cleveland will receive a 2026 first‑round pick and a 2027 second‑round pick from the Rams.
• D’Marco Farr highlighted Garrett’s 115‑snap durability, underscoring his suitability for a hybrid front.
• Rams’ defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said the trade allows L.A. to employ more varied blitz packages, improving overall pressure.
• Garrett’s 2025 EPA per rush snap of 9.2 ranks second league‑wide, indicating elite run‑stop and pass‑rush efficiency.
• Cleveland’s cap space improves by roughly $35 million, providing flexibility for free‑agent signings and extensions.

What This Means for the AFC North

The departure of Garrett instantly tilts the edge‑rusher balance in the AFC North toward the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh’s defensive line, anchored by veteran pass‑rusher Cameron Heyward and a rising linebacker corps led by T.J. Watt, now enjoys a comparative advantage in the division’s rush battle. The Steelers finished 2025 with 41 sacks, second only to the Buffalo Bills in the conference, and with Garrett out of the picture Cleveland’s projected sack total drops from 33 (2025) to an estimated 22‑24 in 2026.

However, the Browns’ influx of draft capital could accelerate a rebuild that many analysts believe is overdue. If Cleveland selects a high‑impact interior defender in the 2026 first round and successfully packages the second‑rounder to move up for a quarterback or a versatile edge talent, the team could field a competitive roster by the 2027 season. Berry’s track record—drafting quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022 and turning the Browns into a playoff team in 2023—suggests a willingness to gamble on youth while maintaining cap discipline.

For the division’s other contenders, the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, the trade serves as a reminder that the AFC North will continue to be defined by defensive intensity. Both teams have invested heavily in interior line play (the Ravens with defensive tackle Tyreke Smith, the Bengals with nose tackle Jonah Williams) and will likely benefit from facing a Browns unit still adjusting to Garrett’s absence.

Historical Context and Comparative Analysis

Trading a franchise cornerstone for draft capital is not unprecedented in recent NFL history. The 2020 trade of defensive end J.J. Watt from the Houston Texans to the Arizona Cardinals for a 2021 second‑round pick and a 2022 fourth‑rounder yielded modest returns for Houston, highlighting the risk of losing elite pass‑rush talent without immediate replacements. By contrast, the 2023 trade of quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets for a 2024 first‑round pick and a 2025 second‑rounder gave Green Bay the flexibility to rebuild around a younger quarterback while the Jets secured a Hall‑of‑Fame caliber signal‑caller.

Garrett’s trade sits somewhere between those two extremes. Cleveland retains two high‑value picks that could produce Pro Bowl talent, but the immediate defensive downgrade mirrors the short‑term decline Houston experienced after parting with Watt. The difference lies in Cleveland’s roster depth; the Browns possess a relatively young secondary and a stable offensive line that should keep the team competitive in close games, whereas Houston’s offense was in disarray at the time of the Watt trade.

Expert Opinions

Former NFL defensive coordinator Wade Phillips called the move “a bold gamble for Cleveland, but one that gives them the ammunition to rebuild faster than most teams in a salary‑cap era.” Phillips noted that Garrett’s contract, while still lucrative, was becoming a cap burden given the Browns’ need to address multiple positional holes.

Rams’ veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has played alongside Garrett for three seasons in Cleveland, praised the acquisition: “Myles is a game‑changer. He brings a level of intensity that lifts everyone around him. I’m excited to see how Mike (Pettine) uses him in our scheme.”

Analytics firm Football Outsiders projected a 4.2 win increase for the Rams over the 2025 season after accounting for Garrett’s expected impact on sack rate, quarterback pressure, and third‑down stop percentage. The same model projected a 2.1 win decrease for the Browns, primarily due to a projected drop in defensive EPA.

Looking Ahead

As training camp opens in late July, both franchises will be under intense scrutiny. The Browns will need to integrate their new draft assets and evaluate the progress of younger linemen, while the Rams will be tasked with getting Garrett acclimated to a new playbook, new teammates, and the pressure of a Los Angeles market that expects instant results.

One thing is clear: Myles Garrett’s move to L.A. reshapes the competitive balance in two of the NFL’s most volatile divisions and sets the stage for a fascinating offseason narrative that will unfold over the next two years.