Browns Trade Myles Garrett To Rams – NFL Rumors – ProFootballRumors.com

Lead

On June 1, 2026, the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams reached an agreement to send reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to Los Angeles. The reported package to Cleveland includes defensive end Jared Verse plus a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third-rounder; both teams posted announcements late in the evening (11:20 p.m.). Schefter, Rapoport and Pelissero first reported the move earlier in the day, and Browns GM Andrew Berry confirmed the transaction is in process. Garrett reportedly waived his no-trade clause to permit the deal and will retain that clause after arriving in Los Angeles.

Key Takeaways

• Myles Garrett is being traded to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick, per multiple reports.
• Both franchises announced the trade at 11:20 p.m.; NFL Network reporters Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the deal earlier in the day.
• Garrett waived his no-trade clause to allow the move and will reportedly keep that clause upon joining the Rams.
• The post–June 1 timing creates roughly $8.34 million in 2026 cap savings for Cleveland and spreads about $41 million in dead money, with $15.53 million accounted for in 2026.
• Jared Verse, the 2024 first-round pick, is 25, a two-time Pro Bowler, won Defensive Rookie of the Year and had 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles last season; his rookie deal runs through 2028.
• This is the first recorded instance of a reigning Defensive Player of the Year being traded, according to reporting from CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
• The Rams add a high-end, immediate pass-rush piece to a defense that narrowly missed a Super Bowl appearance in 2025; Cleveland receives youth and draft capital consistent with a roster reset.

Background

Myles Garrett became one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive players across the previous seasons, collecting the Defensive Player of the Year award most recently and setting franchise and league marks (including a single-season sack record). Despite individual success, Cleveland failed to translate Garrett’s production into lasting postseason progress, and trade speculation followed a spring 2025 request to be dealt that was later rescinded when the team agreed to a then-record extension.

In March 2026 the Browns restructured Garrett’s contract without adding years or new money but shifted option-bonus payment dates to one week before the regular season. That adjustment extended the window in which a trade could be executed; June 1 is a recurring administrative checkpoint on the NFL calendar that affects guarantees and salary-cap mechanics. Over the 2025–26 offseason, the Browns pursued a partial roster reset under GM Andrew Berry and new head coach Todd Monken, emphasizing younger core pieces and draft capital.

Main Event

Reports surfaced midday when national NFL reporters Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Adam Schefter indicated a trade was imminent. Schefter’s version of the terms states Cleveland will receive Jared Verse plus three future draft selections (2027 1st, 2028 2nd, 2029 3rd). Late in the evening both organizations posted announcements that the trade had been agreed, with Cleveland’s front office confirming processing remained before league approval.

Schefter reported Garrett waived his no-trade clause to permit the deal; several outlets noted he will retain that protection once he arrives in Los Angeles. The Rams engaged Cleveland in talks after the March contract adjustment and continued negotiations through the draft. Conversations reportedly shifted materially when Los Angeles agreed to include Jared Verse in a package, a move that Cleveland’s front office found acceptable.

Verse was reportedly told of the trade earlier on the day of the agreement. The 25-year-old defensive end—Cleveland’s 2024 first-rounder and a Defensive Rookie of the Year recipient—gives the Browns a younger starter with upside and a club-controlled contract through 2028. For the Rams, Garrett provides an elite veteran pass rusher intended to pair with players such as Trent McDuffie and to accelerate the club’s immediate championship window.

Analysis & Implications

For Los Angeles, acquiring Garrett is a win-now maneuver that prioritizes immediate defensive impact over future draft capital. Garrett’s presence upgrades an already strong Rams front; his track record and recent Defensive Player of the Year season improve Los Angeles’ odds in short-term playoff pushes, but the move further depletes draft resources that had been used to build the post–Aaron Donald defensive core.

The monetary picture matters for Cleveland. Completing the trade after June 1 generates reported cap savings of about $8.34 million in 2026 while creating roughly $41 million in dead money spread across seasons (with $15.53 million hitting 2026). Those figures free some short-term flexibility and convert an expensive veteran contract into younger, cheaper assets and picks—an outcome consistent with an explicit roster reset under Berry.

From a roster-construction standpoint, Jared Verse aligns more closely with Cleveland’s timeline. He is five years younger than Garrett, under team control for several seasons under his rookie contract, and offers growth potential. The pick haul—one first, one second, one third—gives the Browns options: add talent on both sides of the ball, package for quarterback help, or accelerate a multi-year rebuild around younger core pieces.

There are risks on both sides. The Rams sacrifice draft capital and long-term flexibility for an older elite player whose contract runs through 2030; injury or decline would carry large consequences. Cleveland parts with a proven pass rusher and must validate Verse as a long-term building block while translating picks into roster upgrades that actually move the team toward sustainable contention.

Comparison & Data

The table highlights the fundamental trade-off: an established, premium veteran under a longer contract versus a younger player with shorter team control plus multiple high-value picks. Those picks let Cleveland target immediate contributors or future building blocks; Los Angeles prioritizes a now-ready push for a championship.

Reactions & Quotes

He has waived his no-trade clause to allow this move, per reporting on the agreement.

Adam Schefter / ESPN (report)

This represents the first time a reigning Defensive Player of the Year has been traded, as noted by national coverage.

Jonathan Jones / CBS Sports (analysis)

Both franchises announced the trade agreement late in the evening; Cleveland’s front office said processing remained before final league acceptance.

Cleveland Browns & Los Angeles Rams (team announcements)

Unconfirmed

• Precise long-term financial guarantees Garrett will receive from the Rams beyond media reports of an average annual value—details of the full contract structure have not been fully released publicly.
• Whether Cleveland intends to extend Jared Verse beyond his rookie control window (through 2028) or to use the fifth-year option; the Browns’ long-term plan for Verse has not been formally announced.
• Exact internal roster moves Cleveland will make with the acquired draft capital (target positions or trade packages) remain speculative until the team announces signings or trades.

Bottom Line

This trade is a defining moment for both franchises: the Rams have added an elite veteran to maximize near-term championship prospects, while the Browns pivot toward youth and future flexibility with a clear roster-reset posture. Financially, Cleveland’s post–June 1 timing softens immediate cap pressure while converting an expensive asset into controlled talent and picks.

How this deal ages will depend on three axes: Garrett’s on-field performance and health in Los Angeles, Verse’s development and availability of Cleveland’s draft assets to address roster weaknesses—particularly the future of the quarterback position—and broader roster decisions by both front offices in the coming months. For now, the move reshapes the AFC North and NFC competition landscapes and will be a major storyline in the 2026 season.

Sources

• ProFootballRumors — sports news site (original aggregated report)
• Cleveland Browns — official team announcement / franchise site
• Los Angeles Rams — official team announcement / franchise site
• ESPN / Adam Schefter — national NFL reporting
• NFL Network — national reporting from Ian Rapoport & Tom Pelissero
• Sports Illustrated — reporting / analysis (Albert Breer)