Cleveland Browns–Los Angeles Rams Trade History

Cleveland and Los Angeles agreed in September 1957 to exchange linebacker Roger Zatkoff and quarterback Rudy Bukich, but Zatkoff refused to report to the Rams and the clubs cancelled the transaction. Because neither player actually changed teams under the agreement, there is no realized football return to grade as a win or loss. The proper result is an even, no-completion outcome.

Cleveland acquired center John Morrow from the Los Angeles Rams on March 14, 1960 for center Art Hunter. Morrow became Cleveland's starting center for seven seasons, started 90 games for the Browns, earned two Pro Bowl selections and finished with 60 team Approximate Value, giving Cleveland the stronger long-term return.

Cleveland acquired Leon Clarke from Los Angeles on August 17, 1960. Clarke gave the Browns 33 games over three seasons, catching 32 passes for 501 yards and six touchdowns. The Rams received Bob Long, who played 22 games across 1960 and 1961 and intercepted two passes. Both sides received usable veterans, but Clarke supplied the stronger sustained return.

Cleveland Browns received Gene Selawski; Los Angeles Rams received 1961 third-round pick No. 41, Ron Miller. Selawski played all 12 games for Cleveland in 1960. Miller played six Rams games with one start in 1962, throwing for 250 yards. The realized outcomes support Cleveland Browns Win, with Cleveland Browns graded C+ and Los Angeles Rams graded C.

The legacy record lists Los Angeles Rams receiving Larry Stephens, 1963 third round pick (#37-John Baker (b) / Johnny Baker), 1963 sixth round pick (#79-Terry Monaghan) and Cleveland Browns receiving Frank Ryan, Tom Wilson, but part of that date, identity, or downstream attribution remains disputed in the surviving historical record. Cleveland acquired quarterback Frank Ryan and halfback Tom Wilson from Los Angeles for defensive tackle Larry Stephens plus 1963 third- and sixth-round selections. Sources differ by roughly a day on the 1962 execution date, but the package is

Los Angeles acquired tight end Bill Truax from Cleveland for the 1965 second-round selection that became No. 22 Gerry Bussell. Truax developed into a long-term Rams starter, playing 94 games with 68 starts across seven seasons and catching 16 touchdown passes from 1965 through 1970. Bussell never played for Cleveland, spending his only pro season with Denver. The sustained Rams production makes this a decisive Los Angeles win.

On 1966-03-15, Cleveland Browns received draft pick (selection not identified), while Los Angeles Rams received David Ray. The hindsight verdict is Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams Win, with Cleveland Browns graded C+ and Los Angeles Rams graded B. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and the football value that can be traced from it, while keeping unverified downstream pick identities or conditional outcomes out of the final judgment.

Los Angeles traded defensive back George Youngblood to Cleveland for the Browns' 1968 third-round pick, No. 74 overall. The Rams quickly bundled that selection with a first-rounder and a 1969 second-rounder to acquire star defensive tackle Roger Brown from Detroit; Detroit later used No. 74 on Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders. Youngblood spent only part of one season in Cleveland.

Los Angeles acquired Joe Taffoni and Cleveland’s 1972 third-round pick, which became Lawrence McCutcheon, for Mitch Johnson and a 1972 fifth-rounder that became Greg Kucera. Taffoni was quickly moved again, but McCutcheon became a five-time Pro Bowl running back and one of the defining Rams skill players of the decade. Cleveland’s return never approached that level, creating a clear Rams victory.

Cleveland moved down from No. 20 to No. 23 in the 1978 draft and added pick No. 103. The Browns used No. 23 on Ozzie Newsome, who became a Hall of Fame tight end and one of the defining players in franchise history. Los Angeles selected Elvis Peacock at No. 20, but his Rams production never approached Newsome's Cleveland impact.

Cleveland received Rich Dimler at No. 124 and Jim Ronan at No. 163. Dimler played 12 games with two starts for the Browns in 1979, while Ronan never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Los Angeles got no Rams games from Oscar Roan, but No. 122 Victor Hicks became a 14-game starter in 1980 with 23 catches, 318 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams keep the B-to-C win.

Los Angeles moved up from No. 27 to No. 17 in the 1980 draft and also received a sixth-round pick, selecting defensive back Johnnie Johnson and fullback Mike Guman. Cleveland collected four selections, including Heisman winner Charles White at No. 27. The Rams ultimately received more durable NFL value, especially from Johnson, while White's best professional season came later with Los Angeles.

Los Angeles sent Cleveland its 1984 second-round pick for the exclusive negotiating rights to sprinter and wide receiver Ron Brown, whom the Browns had drafted in 1983. Cleveland used No. 48 on defensive back Chris Rockins. Rockins became a useful four-year contributor, but Brown developed into an All-Pro returner and multi-year Rams weapon, giving Los Angeles the stronger long-term payoff.

The Rams sent Cleveland the rights to Canadian receiver Terry Greer and received the Browns' 1986 fourth-round selection, No. 96. Greer produced only a small amount of offense for Cleveland, while Los Angeles retained a useful draft asset and later included No. 96 in another transaction. The Rams therefore extracted more practical value even though they did not themselves select Charles Haley.

The Rams traded the third-round selection that became kicker Jeff Jaeger to Cleveland and received three later choices, used on Larry Kelm, Scott Mersereau and Fred Stokes. Jaeger kicked in only 10 games for the Browns before his long career continued elsewhere. Los Angeles obtained more direct roster value, especially from Kelm, and also received early contributions from Stokes before his career expanded with other clubs.

Cleveland acquired linebacker Frank Stams from the Rams on August 24, 1992 for an eighth-round choice in the 1993 draft. Stams gave the Browns several seasons of defensive depth after injuries had derailed his Rams tenure. Los Angeles used the pick at No. 209 on Maa Tanuvasa, but his meaningful NFL success came later with Denver. Cleveland gets a narrow C+ to C edge.

Cleveland acquired offensive lineman John Greco from St. Louis on July 31, 2011 for a conditional 2012 draft choice that ultimately was not conveyed. Greco developed into a long-term Browns contributor and starter, while the Rams received no realized selection. Turning a no-cost conditional obligation into years of useful line play gives Cleveland an A- and leaves the Rams with a D.

Los Angeles acquired guard Austin Corbett from Cleveland on October 15, 2019 for a 2021 fifth-round draft choice that became No. 169 overall, safety Richard LeCounte. Corbett quickly became a Rams starter, opening 40 of 41 regular-season games for Los Angeles from 2019 through 2021 and starting all four postseason games during the Rams' 2021 Super Bowl championship run.

On 2022-04-30, Cleveland Browns received 2023 5th round pick (140th overall, Dorian Thompson-Robinson), while Los Angeles Rams received Troy Hill. The hindsight verdict is Los Angeles Rams Win, with Cleveland Browns graded C- and Los Angeles Rams graded B. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and traceable football value, while leaving unresolved downstream pick identities out of the judgment.

Los Angeles traded offensive tackle KT Leveston to Cleveland on August 26, 2025 for a 2028 seventh-round draft choice. Leveston, a 2024 seventh-round pick who had missed his entire rookie season on injured reserve, became useful line depth for the Browns and appeared in 16 regular-season games with seven starts in 2025.

Los Angeles acquired reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in June 2026, sending Cleveland young edge rusher Jared Verse plus first-, second- and third-round picks across the next three drafts. Garrett arrived after setting the NFL single-season sack record with 23 in 2025. The Rams get the present-day edge for landing the proven superstar, while Cleveland's enormous return keeps the long-term verdict open.