The Cleveland Browns have traded their star edge-rusher, Myles Garrett, to the Los Angeles Rams in a move that caught many by surprise. After weeks of denying Garrett’s availability, the Browns finalized the deal with significant implications for both teams.

Reports initially suggested the Browns would receive 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse along with draft pick compensation in return. The confirmed trade details show Garrett, a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, joining the Rams. The Browns, on the other hand, are acquiring Verse, a two-time Pro Bowler, along with a first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028, and a third-round pick in 2029, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This trade continues the Rams’ trend of trading away first-round picks. Since 2016, they have selected in the first round only three times, including quarterback Jared Goff in 2016, Jared Verse in 2024, and Ty Simpson, the 13th overall pick this year. Goff was later traded to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford in 2020.

ESPN and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the inclusion of Jared Verse, the 19th overall pick in the 2024 draft, swayed the Browns to make the trade. “When Jared Verse was suddenly in the deal, the picks got moved around a little bit, it got to a point where the two teams said, ‘You know what, this could actually happen,’” Rapoport stated. Myles Garrett is now expected to join the Rams, the only team aggressively pursuing him. Persistence paid off for Les Snead and Sean McVay.

While not yet on Garrett’s level, Jared Verse is a formidable player. At 25, he was tied for the second-most pressures among NFL edge-rushers last season with 100 pressures, just behind Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans. Verse also led in quarterback hits with 27 and ranked third in hurries with 64. He recorded 7.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and a 16.1 pass-rush win-rate, according to Pro Football Focus.