INSTANT REACTION: Myles Garrett traded to Rams for Jared Verse for & draft picks

The Browns traded Myles Garrett to the Rams for Jared Verse & draft picks. The Cleveland Browns have agreed to trade two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jared Verse and multiple draft picks, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero and ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Browns also will receive a first-round draft pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028 and a third-rounder in 2029, sources told ESPN, in what will be one of the biggest trades in NFL history involving a defensive player. The shocking trade is completely on brand for the Rams, who made a similarly seismic move in the 2021 offseason when they traded for quarterback Matthew Stafford in the season in which the Super Bowl was being played in Los Angeles before going on to win it. With Super Bowl LXI set to be played at SoFi Stadium again, the Rams once again are going all-in and living by their mantra, "F--- them picks," while trying to repeat history. The Rams' interest in Garrett was sparked shortly after the Browns modified the contract of the seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end in March, pushing back the options bonuses from the 15th day of the league year in March to seven days before the start of the regular season, making it easier to trade him. The Browns were adamant that they had no interest in trading Garrett, and even told that to the Rams, according to sources. But the Rams refused to give up what one source called their "persistent pursuit" of Garrett. Los Angeles, according to sources, continued calling and calling -- the only team that tried to pry loose a player the Browns once deemed untouchable. Talks heated up in earnest shortly after this year's NFL draft. The Rams initially offered a package of picks in return for Garrett, but Cleveland held firm to its public stance of not dealing its defensive standout, according to sources. The Browns told the Rams that no deal would get done without including the 25-year-old Verse, the Rams' 2024 first-round pick who has had 12 sacks and 22 tackles for loss the past two seasons. The Rams initially were not interested in moving Verse but eventually began to consider a package with him as long as the draft picks were adjusted appropriately, sources said. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.