Andrew Buller-Russ
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Cleveland Browns have agreed to trade Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. In return for trading their best player, the Browns will receive pass-rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, plus a third-round pick in 2029.
While it’s obvious that the Rams improved and the Browns got worse, who emerges as the biggest winners and losers from the NFL’s blockbuster trade on June 1?
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Loser: San Francisco 49ers
Realistically, all other NFC West teams are losers after the Myles Garrett trade. But the Seahawks just won their Super Bowl, the Cardinals aren’t competitive, so the 49ers are the other team on the outside looking in, still trying to reach the mountaintop. Only now, things will get much tougher facing a supercharged Rams team boasting the NFL’s best defender.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers
The AFC North is rejoicing today. Before, when the Browns were on the schedule, the biggest x-factor was Garrett, who constantly drew double teams yet still managed to break the NFL’s single-season sack record. Now, teams don’t have to worry about getting bullied and embarrassed in the trenches, and getting wins against the Browns should be an easier task, unless coach Todd Monken is the real deal.
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Loser: Jared Verse
Jared Verse’s family has to feel like winners. The Dayton, Ohio, native Verse gets to go home and play in his home state. Yet, he’s also joining one of the worst franchises in the NFL. Now the double-teams will be going Verse’s way, rather than Garrett’s. And as the replacement for the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Verse will be expected to perform at an extremely high level. While Verse is a two-time Pro Bowler, last year he recorded a career-high 7.5 sacks. The only time Garrett recorded fewer than seven sacks was in his rookie season. There will be a lot of pressure on the 25-year-old Verse ahead of his third season.
Winner: Matthew Stafford
The Rams took a lot of heat for making QB Ty Simpson their first-round selection back in April. Here, Matthew Stafford just won MVP, and now the Rams are drafting his replacement? Today, that decision looks much different, with the Rams making their all-in move, landing one of the NFL’s best players. There’s no question that Stafford’s chances to win another Super Bowl increased greatly with the Garrett trade.
Loser: Browns Defensive Coordinator Mike Rutenberg
Ouch. Here, Rutenberg joined the Browns with the understanding that he’d get to coach a future Hall of Famer. That’s no longer the case. But let’s not get this too twisted, he still landed a huge promotion from being the defensive pass game coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons last season. That doesn’t mean this trade isn’t a sizable loss for the first-time D coordinator, but now he’ll have to find a way to weaponize Verse instead.
Winner: Sean McVay
The one-time Super Bowl-winning head coach previously had thoughts of ditching his coaching gig for a job on TV as an analyst, where he’d face much less pressure. While the pressure will only now increase as the Rams become Super Bowl favorites rather than simply contenders, McVay has to like his chances. McVay knows his offense is always in good hands, and now he just added the NFL’s best defender to boost the other side of the ball too.
Loser: Cleveland Browns Fans
This is a tough one. Browns fans have had to suffer through three double-digit loss seasons in the past four years. Meanwhile, Garrett has been a dominant presence all along. When it came to buying a jersey, there was no question who to pick: one of the best players in franchise history. Joe Thomas never left or played for another team, but now, after two playoff appearances across nine years, Garrett is ready to play for a contender.
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Winner: Myles Garrett
Garrett has played nine seasons in the NFL. He’s recorded double-digit sacks eight times. Now he’ll join another talented front seven Rams defense that ranked 10th in points allowed last season. Of course, Garrett will still face double-teams, but there will also be several other Rams defenders capable of winning their one-on-one battles. Together, the Rams can be a top-five unit.
Winner: Los Angeles Rams
The Seahawks may have won the Super Bowl last season, but they won’t be favorites to repeat as champions after this trade. The Rams are a well-oiled machine on both sides of the ball. If anything, this trade could make them an even more attractive landing spot for the top free agents available. Could signing another impact receiver come next?
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