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How the Myles Garrett trade instantly elevates the Rams into Championship contention
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- How the Myles Garrett trade instantly elevates the Rams into Championship contention
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There was a football reason behind the Rams' decision to trade for Myles Garrett . Add an edge rusher who can force an offence to change its plans all by himself.
Los Angeles picked up Garrett from Cleveland in a June 1 trade, giving up Jared Verse , a 2027 first-rounder, a 2028 second-rounder, and a third-round pick in 2029. That's quite the haul to send out, but you don't have to strain yourself understanding why it happened.
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Myles Garrett is coming off a season where he set a new record with 23 sacks. Over the past six years, he's been named first-team All-Pro five times, has appeared in six consecutive Pro Bowls, and has reached double-digit sacks in each of the last eight seasons.
His career total of 125.5 sacks puts him tied for 20th all-time, and many of those came during seasons when Cleveland's offence wasn't giving him much help on the scoreboard.
That kind of consistency gives defensive coordinator Chris Shula an elite player who forces offences to adjust their entire approach. Teams have to chip him with backs and tight ends, slide protection his way, and often speed up their route timing just to keep him from wrecking plays.
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Garrett's trade had to go through him first
Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million extension last offseason with $123 million guaranteed and a rare no-trade clause, one of the few defensive players in league history to hold one. He requested a trade before the Super Bowl, the Browns held firm all offseason, and the deal only happened once Cleveland modified his option bonus to make a move feasible, and Garrett signed off on the destination. This was not a player being shipped out. It was a star choosing the Rams.
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Los Angeles is now the first team since the 1970 merger to feature both the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. Matthew Stafford 's MVP campaign raised the offence's ceiling, and Garrett brings a similar presence to Chris Shula's defence.
The Rams are no strangers to these kinds of moves. They went all in for Stafford in 2021, won a Super Bowl, and now appear set on repeating that formula. With Puka Nacua , Davante Adams , and Kyren Williams already established in Sean McVay's system, this looks like another clear run at a title.
Garrett wasn't the only addition
It wasn't just the pass rush that needed fixing last season—the secondary was a concern, too. The Rams made moves on both fronts. They brought in cornerback Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs and handed him a four-year, $124 million deal. On top of that, they picked up former Chief Jaylen Watson to add more depth.
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Adding Garrett ties everything together. His presence helps free up players like Byron Young , Kobie Turner , and Braden Fiske for more one-on-one opportunities, while also giving the revamped secondary a better chance to hold up by reducing clean pockets for quarterbacks.
Last season, the Rams' main problem was on defence, and they responded by adding an edge rusher who can single-handedly change how offences prepare for them.
The deal was made official on June 1, with Los Angeles sending Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for Garrett. While the cost is high, the reasoning behind it is clear.
What does Garrett bring?
Coming off a record-setting season that saw him collect 23 sacks, Garrett has been named to six straight Pro Bowls and has at least ten sacks in each of the last eight seasons. Despite rarely playing with big leads in Cleveland, his career total of 125.5 sacks ranks tied for 20th all-time.
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This gives defensive coordinator Chris Shula a player who forces offences to chip, slide protection and speed up route timing. Those effects show up even on the snaps when Garrett does not get to the quarterback.
The Rams used a first-round pick in 2026 on Ty Simpson , providing a succession plan for Stafford that made the Garrett trade more viable. Having that long-term quarterback piece in place allowed them to send future draft assets to Cleveland without worrying about needing those picks to find a new passer.
The acquisition of Garrett signals that Los Angeles thinks it's worth the price. With McDuffie and Watson also in the mix, adding Garrett isn't just bold—it's intentional.
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