Los Angeles paid a massive price for a generational pass rusher, while Cleveland chose a package built around Jared Verse and future draft capital.
The Rams' trade for Myles Garrett belongs in the modern blockbuster tier because Los Angeles acquired the rarest piece in the deal: a proven elite pass rusher. Cleveland received a serious return with Jared Verse and premium picks, but the Rams won the known-player side while the Browns accepted future-dependent value. The Browns did not get fleeced, but Los Angeles acquired the proven superstar while Cleveland accepted the risk of future conversion.
Los Angeles acquired Myles Garrett from Cleveland on June 1, 2026. The Browns received outside linebacker Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick. Garrett arrived after a 2025 season in which the Rams' official announcement credited him with an NFL-record 23 sacks and another Defensive Player of the Year award.
Los Angeles was buying one of the most valuable defensive assets available: a proven elite edge rusher capable of changing protections and affecting games without schematic help. The Rams were also operating from a contender's timeline, where converting future draft capital into immediate star power can be rational if the roster is strong enough to chase a championship.
The inclusion of Verse makes the price unusually significant. Cleveland did not receive only future lottery tickets. Verse was already a young, proven edge defender, so the Browns obtained a known player plus three additional premium selections.
From a rebuilding or retooling perspective, the Browns created both present and future flexibility. Verse can immediately occupy a major defensive role, while the 2027 first, 2028 second and 2029 third extend the return across several drafts. That is a substantial package for a 30-year-old veteran, even one of Garrett's caliber.
As of August 2026, Garrett has not yet played a regular-season game for the Rams. That matters. Any definitive claim that Los Angeles has already won the full long-term trade would outrun the evidence.
The site's existing Rams verdict can still be explained as a known-player judgment: Los Angeles acquired the best established player in the transaction and did so for a roster built to contend immediately.
The Rams hold the edge for now, consistent with the existing grade, because Garrett is the rare proven superstar around whom a championship defense can be built. Cleveland's return is strong enough that this deal remains unsettled. Verse's development, the future picks and what Los Angeles accomplishes with Garrett will determine whether today's Rams edge becomes a durable historical verdict.