3 reasons Rams’ blockbuster Myles Garrett trade will blow up in their face

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3 reasons Rams’ blockbuster Myles Garrett trade will blow up in their face

Enzo Flojo, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Tue, Jun 2, 2026 ·

4 min read

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3 reasons Rams' blockbuster Myles Garrett trade will blow up in their face appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

The Los Angeles Rams may have just crossed the line between bold and reckless. They just traded for Myles Garrett , and well, it may eventually blow up in their face. Of course, Garrett is one of the best defensive players of his generation. The problem is that championship windows are built on more than star power alone. They require depth and financial flexibility. By acquiring Garrett in a massive trade with the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles doubled down on its win-now philosophy . The move obviously generated immediate excitement. Beneath the headlines, though, lies concerns that could turn this into a cautionary tale.

Rams pushed all-in

Before emptying the treasure chest for Garrett , the Rams spent the early portion of the 2026 offseason constructing a balanced, formidable group. The organization made significant waves by engineering a high-profile trade for Trent McDuffie . They also prioritized veterans and plugged holes along the offensive line and back half of the defense. As such, the front office assembled a fundamentally sound roster. Yet the sudden acquisition of Garrett effectively rewrote the entire narrative of the offseason. It transformed a carefully layered build into an aggressive gamble that pushes every remaining chip to the center of the table.

Massive economic weight

The most obvious concern surrounding the trade is the financial burden attached to Garrett's contract. His contract is among the richest ever given to a defensive player. His cap hits are scheduled to remain substantial throughout the life of the deal. When combined with Stafford 's contract, Davante Adams ' veteran salary, McDuffie's future financial demands, and the inevitable extension coming for Puka Nacua , the Rams are rapidly approaching a roster-building crossroads.

Also, teams rarely survive a 17-game season relying exclusively on stars. Injuries inevitably force backups into critical roles. The Eagles, Chiefs, and Seahawks have all demonstrated that championship rosters require quality contributors throughout the depth chart .

The danger for Los Angeles is that future financial constraints could force the organization to rely heavily on bargain-bin veterans and inexperienced replacements. Garrett may dominate on Sundays. However, even the NFL's best pass rusher cannot compensate for weaknesses spread across multiple position groups. If injuries strike, the Rams could discover that top-heavy rosters often crumble under the weight of a long season.

Surrendering Jared Verse

Fans naturally focus on the arrival of Garrett. Cleveland, though, received a young, ascending edge defender already producing at a Pro Bowl level. Jared Verse represented the ideal modern NFL asset. He was productive, relatively inexpensive, and still entering the prime years of his career. Those types of players are incredibly difficult to replace.

Garrett is unquestionably the superior player today. However, roster construction is about value as much as talent. The Browns now possess a cornerstone defender under team control for years. Meanwhile, the Rams are betting that Garrett will maintain elite production deep into his thirties.

History suggests that edge rushers can remain productive beyond age 30. That said, decline often arrives quickly when it does come. Even a slight reduction in explosiveness can dramatically impact effectiveness at the position.

If Verse continues developing into a premier pass rusher, while Garrett eventually recedes, the trade could look far less favorable within two or three seasons. Los Angeles essentially exchanged long-term stability for short-term dominance. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it becomes an expensive lesson.

Post-Stafford cliff

The most overlooked risk involves the future beyond Stafford. The Rams have built their current championship aspirations around the veteran quarterback, and rightly so. Stafford remains one of the NFL's premier signal-callers. However, he is also nearing the final stages of an outstanding career.

That makes the draft capital surrendered in this trade especially concerning. Reports indicate Los Angeles parted with three significant future assets. Those draft picks could have helped facilitate the next quarterback transition. Without those resources, the Rams could face a difficult reality once Stafford eventually retires.

Yes, the Rams drafted Ty Simpson as a potential succession plan. However, projecting any quarterback as a guaranteed future star is dangerous. If Simpson does not develop into the long-term answer, Los Angeles may find itself lacking both the financial flexibility and draft ammunition necessary to pursue alternatives.

The Rams have successfully navigated aggressive roster-building strategies before. Their Super Bowl-winning model proved that pushing chips to the center of the table can work. However, every gamble carries risk.

Garrett may help elevate Los Angeles into immediate championship contention. He may even become the final piece that delivers another Lombardi Trophy. If the salary cap tightens or if Verse blossoms into a superstar in Cleveland, though, then this blockbuster could ultimately be remembered less for what it added and more for what it cost.

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