In the latest installment of “Browns fans can’t have anything nice”, star pass rusher and future Hall of Famer Myles Garrett was traded to the Rams on Monday in a deal that netted Cleveland the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and some draft capital, including a 2027 first-round pick. The move came shortly after first-year head coach Todd Monken spoke with reporters and mostly dodged Garrett questions and GM Andrew Berry let some of the cat out of the bag on an impending trade.
The writing was on the wall in neon pink spray paint that Garrett’s time with the Browns was likely coming to an end when the two sides agreed back in March to defer $29 million in bonus payments over the next three seasons. The June 1 date was the key in that the Browns could use the salary cap rules to their advantage to create more 2026 flexibility and also further spread out the cap hit of the bonuses.
Keeping a player of Garrett’s caliber obviously had very little downside risk to the Browns, but he had previously requested a trade and the Browns have to position themselves to lock up a really strong core of young, productive talent and also figure out who the QB of the future is. This deal actually looks strong for both sides, as Verse has upside to improve and draft capital is valuable to the Browns, both in terms of personnel and the salary cap.
Super Bowl Odds and the Myles Garrett Trade
Many felt like the Rams were the team to beat and the Garrett trade simply moved that needle even farther. DraftKings moved the Rams from +800 down to +650, while the prediction market Kalshi saw a major spike in Rams interest, pushing them out to around 18% (or 18 cents) after they were around 10.5% prior to the deal getting reported on social media.
Even though the Seahawks share a division with the Rams, the reigning champions were still listed at 9% (or 9 cents) as the second-likeliest championship team per Kalshi. The Bills, Chiefs, Ravens, Broncos, and 49ers were all next, with Buffalo at 7% and the others at 6%.
Here in Vegas, Circa Sports moved the Rams from +720 to +640 to win the Super Bowl and dropped them from +390 to +310 to win the NFC and +136 to +100 to win the NFC West.
Given that the Browns were never really going to factor into that equation, it is fair to wonder if we see a spike in the odds across the markets for the other AFC North teams, given that facing Garrett twice a season is no longer on the table.
The Rams and Myles Garrett
World-class players are hardly attainable in any sport, but the Rams jumped at the chance to get one here. Verse is truly a loss, as he graded 11th among edge rushers per PFF grades and was sixth in pressures and fourth in tackles out of 115 qualified edge defenders. He was taken 19th overall in the 2024 draft and won Defensive Rookie of the Year with 4.5 sacks, 66 tackles, and two forced/recovered fumbles.
But, he was expendable to get a player of Garrett’s stature and also with the emergence of Braden Fiske and continued standout play of Kobie Turner since Aaron Donald retired. With Matthew Stafford now 38 and a win-now window, the acquisition of Garrett was a no-brainer. Even with the ultra-competitive nature of the NFC West, the Rams moved to the even-money favorite per DraftKings after the trade was announced.
The Browns and Myles Garrett
For Browns fans, today is another tough pill to swallow because of Garrett’s name value and production. The Indians/Guardians are regularly pillaged by big-market teams and lose their budding stars. LeBron James did get the city a championship, but has left twice. Garrett was already a bona fide star and to see him leave reopens a lot of wounds that have scarred over.
That being said, the long shot Browns, who were lined at Over/Under 6.5 wins with extra vig on the Under prior to the deal, are building towards the time when Deshaun Watson’s albatross contract and presence are removed from the roster. Verse will be in line for a significant pay day soon, but he still has two guaranteed seasons with a cap hit under $5 million and then a fifth-year club option on his rookie deal.
Watson’s devastating cap hit and the seemingly endless fallout from the worst trade in NFL history has shaped everything that the Browns have done ever since that deal was completed. With Denzel Ward reaching free agency in 2028, big contracts down the line for Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger, among others, and the need for a QB sooner rather than later, this felt like the outcome we all should have expected.
Summary of the Myles Garrett Trade
Overall, this looks like a win-win. Verse is a good, maybe bordering on great, player, but Garrett is an elite player and just the right type of player to go all-in on for a team like the Rams. While the Browns are losing one of the best players in franchise history, a pretty good return for some salary cap relief and flexibility and more clarity on the big picture could pay dividends down the line, even if it hurts today.
