Myles Garrett Traded to Los Angeles Rams in Blockbuster NFL Deal

The NFL’s most seismic trade of 2026 is now official: Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and two-time sack leader, has joined the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster deal that reshapes the AFC and NFC power structures. The move, finalized June 2, sends shockwaves through football’s front offices, where Garrett’s arrival in L.A. is already being compared to Aaron Donald’s dominance—and where the 49ers’ offensive line now faces its toughest test in years. With the Rams’ Week 1 matchup in Melbourne looming, Garrett’s first season in a new conference could redefine pass-rush strategy across the league.

Garrett’s Trade: The Blockbuster That ‘Will Break the NFL’

The trade itself is a seismic shift: Cleveland sends Garrett to the Rams in exchange for Jared Verse (a 2024 first-round pick), a 2027 first-rounder, a 2028 second-rounder, and a 2029 third-rounder. What makes this deal historic isn’t just the haul—it’s the *why*. For years, Rams head coach Sean McVay has publicly admired Garrett, calling him “one of the best outside rushers of all time.” Their connection traces back to a 2023 loss in Melbourne, where McVay pulled Garrett aside postgame with a blunt message: *“I didn’t f—ing sleep all week because of you.”* That moment, years later, became the catalyst for the trade’s final push.

The timing was deliberate. Garrett, frustrated with Cleveland’s front-office decisions and his own contract frustrations, had been shopping for a trade since March. The Browns, meanwhile, shifted their rebuild strategy toward the pass rush, making Verse the centerpiece of their future. The Rams, flush with draft capital and desperate to replicate Donald’s era, saw Garrett as the answer to their pass-rush woes. *“This is gonna break the NFL,”* one high-ranking league source told The New York Times, capturing the trade’s ripple effect.

Why Garrett’s Double-Team Rate Terrifies Offenses

Garrett’s arrival in L.A. isn’t just about sacks—it’s about *disruption*. According to Pro Football Focus, Garrett’s double-team rate on pass-rush snaps was nearly 60% in 2025, the second-highest mark among defensive linemen. That stat alone explains why offenses will scramble to adjust: when Garrett is on the field, protections schemes become predictable, and play-action becomes a liability. The Rams’ defense, already elite, now has a player who forces entire offensive lines to pivot their entire blocking scheme around one man.

Compare that to Aaron Donald’s prime, when his 2018 sack total (20.5) set a single-season record. Donald’s dominance required offenses to dedicate *two* blockers to him on nearly every snap—a luxury few teams can afford. Garrett, now 30, brings that same level of disruption, but with the added threat of a 4.48-second 40-time speed. *“He’s an all-time great pass rusher,”* 49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster said after studying Garrett’s film. *“He’s an unbelievable talent, but it’s still an edge rusher that you have to take care of.”*

The 49ers, who faced Garrett in Cleveland’s 2023 win over L.A., already have a plan—but it won’t be as effective as it was against Jared Verse. In that 26-8 victory, Garrett had a sack and three QB hits. Last season, he had zero sacks and just one hit in the Browns’ 19-17 win over San Francisco. *“He made a couple plays, and then you’re like, ‘Let me go back and look at the tape and see what it really was,’”* Foerster admitted. The Rams’ Week 1 trip to Melbourne will be Garrett’s first game in a new conference—and a test of whether his reputation precedes his film.

The Ravens’ Pass-Rush Void: Who Fills Garrett’s Shoes?

While Garrett’s departure leaves the Browns with a new challenge, the Ravens’ situation is even more precarious. Baltimore’s 2025 pass rush was anemic, and Garrett’s trade exposes a deeper issue: the AFC North’s inability to sustain elite pressure. The Ravens’ front office has been scrambling to replace Garrett’s production, but the options are limited.

For more on this story, see Myles Garrett Traded to Rams in Blockbuster Deal With Cleveland Browns.

Enter Patrick Queen and Zach Allen, two young pass rushers who showed flashes in 2025 but lack Garrett’s consistency. Queen, a second-round pick in 2022, had 7.5 sacks last season but also seven passes defensed—hardly the one-dimensional threat Garrett is. Allen, a 2024 first-rounder, is still developing. The Ravens’ hope rests on Justin Madubuike, a 2023 first-round pick who had 10 sacks in 2024 but missed most of 2025 with an injury. At 31, Madubuike’s prime may be behind him, raising questions about Baltimore’s long-term plan.

Then there’s Lamar Jackson, who battled injuries in 2025 and saw his sack numbers spike as offenses targeted him. With a healthy Jackson and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle implementing fresh schemes, the Ravens’ rushing attack could return to form—but their pass rush remains a question mark. *“Hendrickson’s roundabout road to Baltimore included contract frustrations with the Bengals and the Ravens nixing a Maxx Crosby trade,”* the Ravens’ official site noted, highlighting the front office’s struggles to retain or acquire impact players. The trade sends a message: even elite teams can’t rely on one player to carry the load.

What This Means for the AFC vs. NFC Pass-Rush Arms Race

Garrett’s move isn’t just a trade—it’s a statement. The Rams, already stacked with Khalil Mack, Aaron Donald, and Darius Slay, now have a pass rusher who can dominate entire offensive lines. The AFC, meanwhile, faces a talent drain: Garrett’s departure leaves the Browns with Verse (a project) and the Ravens with a pass rush built on hope rather than proven production.

The implications for the 2026 season are immediate:

• NFC Pass Rush Dominance: With Garrett, Mack, and Donald, the Rams’ defense could set a new standard for pressure. The 49ers, Packers, and Seahawks will need to adjust their protections schemes—or risk being exposed.
• AFC’s Pass-Rush Struggles: The Browns and Ravens now lack the elite edge rusher they had in Garrett. The Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson (NFL’s sack leader in 2024) is aging, and the Steelers’ Armon Watts is coming off a down year. The AFC’s pass rush may no longer be a strength.
• Quarterback Targeting: Offenses will likely shift more plays to mobile QBs like Josh Allen and Jared Goff to avoid Garrett’s rush. The Rams’ defense, meanwhile, will thrive in play-action heavy schemes.

The trade also accelerates the NFL’s pass-rush evolution. Teams are increasingly relying on hybrid defenders—players like Jalen Carter (who can rush from multiple spots) and DeForest Buckner (a versatile interior force). Garrett’s arrival in L.A. could push more teams to adopt similar schemes, where versatility outweighs specialization.

This follows our earlier report, Myles Garrett’s blockbuster trade shakes AFC North as Browns rebuild for 2027.

The 49ers’ New Nightmare: Adjusting to Garrett in Melbourne

For the 49ers, Garrett’s presence changes everything. Their offensive line, led by Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey, will need to retool their protections. Foerster’s comments reveal the challenge: *“He’s an outstanding football player, and he’s going to be a challenge for us to take care of. But we had a plan last year. You’re going to do the best you can.”*

The 49ers’ Week 1 trip to Melbourne will be a microcosm of the AFC-NFC pass-rush battle. Garrett’s first game in a new conference will test whether his reputation as a game-changer holds up against a top-tier offensive line. If he dominates, expect more teams to prioritize pass-rush versatility over raw size. If he struggles, the Rams may face questions about their investment.

One thing is certain: Garrett’s arrival in L.A. isn’t just about sacks. It’s about *control*—forcing offenses into predictable schemes, dictating the pace of the game, and redefining what it means to be an elite pass rusher in the modern NFL. For the Rams, the goal is clear: make Garrett the face of their defense, the way Donald was for years. For the rest of the league, the challenge is just beginning.

What’s Next: The 2026 Pass-Rush Arms Race

The Garrett trade is the first domino in what promises to be a transformative offseason for pass-rush talent. Key questions remain:

• Will the Rams’ defense live up to the hype with Garrett, Donald, and Mack on the same side?
• Can the AFC North replace Garrett’s production, or will the NFC’s pass rush dominate?
• Will more teams follow the Rams’ lead and prioritize versatility over raw size in their pass-rush schemes?

One thing is clear: the NFL’s pass-rush landscape has shifted. Garrett’s move from Cleveland to L.A. isn’t just a trade—it’s a statement. The era of one-dimensional pass rushers may be ending, and the teams that adapt will dictate the terms of the next generation of defensive play.

For now, the focus turns to Melbourne. When the Rams and 49ers meet in Week 1, Garrett’s first game in a new conference will set the tone for his Rams tenure—and for the AFC-NFC pass-rush battle to come.