LAR Myles Garrett
NFL defensive player. Position: Edge Rusher (EDGE). Team: Los Angeles Rams (traded from Cleveland Browns on June 1, 2026).
Quick Facts
- Position: Edge Rusher (EDGE)
- Team: Los Angeles Rams (traded June 1, 2026)
- Contract: ~$160 million (four-time All-Pro, two-time DPOY)
2026 Outlook
Myles Garrett was traded to the Los Angeles Rams on June 1, 2026 for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a conditional 2029 third-round pick. The third-rounder can escalate to a first-rounder if the Rams trade Garrett to an AFC North team (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, or Baltimore) before 2029—an unusual clause inserted by the Browns to prevent a division rival from acquiring him. This trade caps an incredible 2025 season where he set the single-season sack record with 23 sacks—one of the best seasons in NFL history. He holds two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and is chasing the record (three total). At age 31 heading into 2026, Garrett joins DC Chris Shula in LA, where the Rams have also traded for cornerback McDuffie and signed Jaylen Watson to upgrade the secondary. Alongside legendary defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who unretired on August 30 to join the Rams, Garrett anchors one of the most elite defensive lines in modern NFL history. Garrett remains an elite pass rusher who transforms any defense he joins. (per Aaron Donald ends his retirement, joins Myles Garrett with Rams on a 1-year, $20 million deal)
USA Today's analysis of the top 10 NFL trades of the last decade ranks the Garrett deal as the #1 trade, citing "one of the biggest trades in recent memory, but also in league history." The two-time DPOY's impact signaled the Rams are "all-in on trying to win another Super Bowl." The market impact was immediate: Rams odds to win Super Bowl 61 moved from +800 to +600, making them the only team with single-digit championship odds heading into OTAs. Garrett confirmed he'll wear his familiar #95 with LA (per NFL news, live updates: Falcons reportedly make Drake London league's third-highest...). The Rams were already the +800 favorite before the trade, having come off an NFC Championship loss to defending champion Seattle—adding the two-time DPOY and sack leader elevates their championship window significantly. Garrett will pair with edge rusher Chris Jones to anchor a transformed defensive front.
Garrett's impact on the Rams defense is immediate and quantifiable. He had 31 quick pressures (under 3 seconds) in 2025, fifth-most in the NFL, compared to 34 combined from the Rams' prior pass rush (Verse, Young). The Rams converted just 18% of pressures to sacks last season (21st in NFL), but Garrett led the league in quick pressure rate and sack conversion, dictating double-teams and freeing up teammates. DC Chris Shula gains a gravity creator who can manipulate offensive protections, similar to how Aaron Donald elevated the secondary by generating instant pressure. (per In trading for Myles Garrett, the Rams just acquired the NFL's biggest defensive cheat code) and (per Top 10 NFL trades of the last decade: Where does Myles Garrett rank?)
Garrett's technical dominance becomes clear in his elite metrics: 0.70-second get-off (fastest among 200+ pass rushes), 83 sacks over the last five years (most in NFL), 156 QB hits (most in NFL), 17 run stuffs from edge (second-most behind only Maxx Crosby), and 28 run stops from edge (fourth-most). Pairing him with Chris Young gives the Rams two elite defenders with 50+ pressures each. The Rams' prior pass rush ranked second-slowest in get-off at 0.96 seconds; Garrett's 0.70 mark instantly upgrades LA's ability to reach QBs early and avoid chip blocks (per How does Myles Garrett fit in Rams defense? How All-Pro changes everything).
Beyond immediate impact, Garrett has set his sights on a career milestone: breaking Bruce Smith's all-time sack record of 200. Currently at 125.5 sacks (third-most among active players), Garrett needs 74.5 more sacks to eclipse Smith's 23-year-old record. At 30 years old, he's in elite company—only five players in NFL history have recorded 75+ sacks after turning 30. Garrett's contract with the Rams runs through 2030 (five seasons); if he averages 14-15 sacks annually, he'll be within striking distance at age 35. The Rams' improved defense and play-with-a-lead environment should generate more sack opportunities than his Cleveland years, positioning him well to pursue this historic goal. (per Rams' Myles Garrett wants to break an NFL record that has stood for 23 years and he might just pull it off).
In his 10th season, Garrett is also within striking distance of Reggie White's record for most sacks in a player's first 10 seasons (145 total). With 125.5 through nine seasons, Garrett needs just 20 sacks to surpass White's mark—a realistic threshold given he recorded 23 in 2025 and is predicted to reach 20+ again in 2026. (per With 20 sacks, Myles Garrett would top Reggie White for sacks in a player's first 10 years).
IDP outlook in 2026: Garrett finished as IDP2 in 2025 fantasy with 265.3 points despite not impacting the run game as much as traditional IDP candidates. Though his pass-rushing production will inevitably decline from his record-breaking 2025 (23 sacks), he remains a can't-miss IDP prospect in every draft and is positioned as a top-tier fantasy defensive asset. Even with expected sack regression, Garrett will be among the NFL's sack leaders in 2026 and remains a human highlight reel. (per 2026 NFL Fantasy Football Top IDP and Team Defense Picks, Contenders & Analysis - Lineups) CBS Sports ranks Garrett as the #1 overall player in the NFL heading into 2026, underscoring his elite status across both IDP and mainstream fantasy formats. (per Ranking the NFL's top 100 players, plus stars who could force a trade))
IDP tier-1 targeting (June 25): IDP+ ranked Garrett as tier-1 defensive lineman for 2026 IDP drafts, describing him as "an elite pass-rush presence and proven dominance that should translate even with a new supporting cast." Recommended as a rounds 8-11 target for first-round IDP selections (per 2026 IDP Draft Strategy Guide).
Bold 20+ sack prediction (July 1): ESPN's 2026 preseason predictions bold-face Garrett to repeat his 23-sack masterpiece with another 20+ sack season. The logic: improved pass-rush opportunities in LA (5.4 more obvious pass-rush snaps per game vs. Jared Verse's rate), alongside DC Chris Shula's creative blitz packages designed to maximize his pressure rate. While 20+ sacks have only occurred 23 times in NFL history, Garrett's elite conditioning (missed just 1 game in five years), prime status at age 31, and better situational football with the Rams favor another historic year. Garrett's 448 pass-rush snaps in 2025 (tied for 8th) should increase significantly with the Rams' expected higher third-and-long frequency, as coach Sean McVay's playoff teams maintain leads and generate natural passing situations. ESPN analyst assessed the Rams as better positioned to feed Garrett opportunities: only Jared Verse's 241 obvious pass-rush snaps (6th) exceeded Garrett's 217, giving him roughly 34 more ripe sack opportunities (2 per game) over a 17-game slate—enough to push him toward another 20-sack season if pressure-to-sack conversion rate holds. (per 10 predictions for 2026 NFL season: Division winners, trades - ESPN)
Training camp status (August 5): Garrett is wrecking offensive lines in Rams camp as the defense prepares for a dominant 2026 season. Paired with edge defender T.J. Watt, he creates a historic pass-rush tandem. On 59% of his 2025 pass-rush snaps, Garrett was double-teamed (most among true edge defenders) and chipped on 26% of snaps—still posted 23 sacks. The Rams expect a "lead" environment with -500 Super Bowl odds, which should create natural passing situations late in games. IDP expectations remain tier-1 with regression naturally from his 23-sack record, but Garrett is positioned for continued dominance in LA's scheme. (per NFL offseason power rankings: No. 1 Los Angeles Rams move all in to win another Super Bowl).
IDP rankings tier-1 confirmation (July 20): The IDP Show's latest tier update confirms Garrett as ED1 heading into 2026, with particular emphasis on his improved outlook after joining the Rams. Analyst noted Garrett originally ranked as ED3 while with Cleveland but elevated him to clear IDP1 status due to the combination of elite individual production (23 sacks in 2025, broken NFL record), better pass-rush environment with LA (more pass-rushing opportunities, stronger supporting cast), superior secondary allowing more time to generate pressure, and overall team improvement. The projection: "another 20-plus-sack season is within his range of outcomes again." Garrett's continued elite production and lack of signs of decline solidify his top tier status heading into training camp. (per 2026 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Defensive Linemen Tiers 2.0)
CBS unanimous top-10 pick (July 30): CBS Sports' panel of 10 NFL experts unanimously selected Garrett as one of four unanimous top-10 picks at the edge rusher position heading into 2026, cementing his consensus status as an elite defensive anchor across all analytical frameworks and fantasy formats (per CBS Sports' top 10 players at every defensive position: Four unanimous top picks, including Myles Garrett).
4for4 IDP tier-1 elite edge ranking (July 24): 4for4's 2026 fantasy football IDP rankings place Garrett as the consensus clear 1.01 in IDP regardless of scoring format. The ranking notes he's "coming off of a historic 2025 campaign" (23 sacks) and "while I'm not projecting a repeat performance, I don't think he has a peer who's coming for his crown." Garrett should see a spike in play volume and pass rush snaps with the Rams, who faced 64.1 plays per game (top 10) and opposing pass rate of 59.3% (top 10)—both marking significant increases from Cleveland's bottom-third volume (59.7 plays per game, 53.2% pass rate). Even accounting for natural regression from his record-breaking pace, 4for4 projects Garrett for a league-leading 16.5 sacks in 2026. (per 2026 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings and Tiers Breakdown: Defensive Linemen - 4for4)
NFC West divisional dominance context (Aug 27): CBS Sports' division ranking analysis positions Garrett's addition to the Rams as fundamental to their elite status entering 2026. The Rams' #1 NFC West ranking explicitly cites the Garrett trade as transformational: "all they've done is add one of the best defensive players of all time in Myles Garrett and overhaul their worst position group, trading for Trent McDuffie and signing Jaylen Watson." The assessment suggests Garrett's impact is on par with elite additions, positioning the Rams' defense as elite even accounting for regression from his historic 2025 sack total. (per Ranking NFL divisions: NFC West, NFC North battle for supremacy, clear choice for worst - CBS Sports)
Aaron Donald unretires to pair with Garrett (Aug 30): Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald officially came out of retirement on August 30, 2026, signing a one-year, $20 million deal with the Rams to team up with Garrett. The two form one of the most dominant defensive line combinations in NFL history—Garrett leads all active players with 125.5 career sacks, while Donald brings 125.5 additional career sacks and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. Donald will operate on a rotational workload (30-40 snaps per game) rather than competing for full-time reps, allowing the Rams to maximize both edge rushers' availability in key situations. Donald told NFL insider Jordan Schultz: "I've been working the last 12-13 weeks to train my body and get it to a point where I felt like I could play the game at a high level and be durable. I am now ready to come back to try and do something special with this group of guys" (per Aaron Donald comes out of retirement, joins Myles Garrett with Rams on a 1-year, $20 million deal)).
The trade reflects the Rams' established pattern of aggressive moves when a championship window appears. This organization has repeatedly prioritized immediate star power—previously trading for Matthew Stafford, Jalen Ramsey, and Von Miller—placing a bet that Garrett's elite production now outweighs long-term flexibility. With Super Bowl LXI scheduled at SoFi Stadium, the Rams sent a clear message they believe another Super Bowl run is within reach (per 2026 Defensive MVP Myles Garrett Traded to LA Rams - Respect My Region).
Browns' rebuild signal: Garrett's trade from Cleveland in early June 2026 set the stage for the Browns' defensive reconfiguration. Despite trading away their star pass rusher, the organization extended both Denzel Ward ($31.1M AAV cornerback) and safety Grant Delpit through 2029—signaling the team's intention to compete despite roster mobility decisions. Ward's subsequent statement that he "can still be traded" despite the extension reflects the broader uncertainty around Cleveland's rebuild direction; the team is simultaneously committing to veteran secondary talent while maintaining optionality for mid-season trades if the 2026 season disappoints. (per Browns CB Denzel Ward: 'I Can Still Be Traded')
ESPN trade grades (Aug 30, 2026)—cautionary view: ESPN graded the Rams a C-, noting while Garrett clearly elevates their 2026 title chances, the cost (Verse, three draft picks) to the 2027-2030 window is "too much to justify." Verse ranked #10 in coaches' surveys post-2025 and carries elite run-stop value—the Rams lose two years of cheap team control on a promising young edge in exchange for maximizing only 2026. ESPN also questioned the Rams' draft strategy (Ty Simpson at #13), arguing Garrett's addition mandates veteran backup QB depth given Matthew Stafford's injury risk. Verse himself is probably worth more than a first-round pick, so "the compensation here with no picks from the Browns and three from the Rams is really heavy." For the Browns, trading Garrett while still not contenders allows them to reset with Verse and draft picks that mature when they're ready to compete. The verdict: Rams are better today (moved Super Bowl odds from +800 to +600) but at a significant long-term cost (per 2026 NFL offseason trade grades: Broderick Jones, Tutu Atwell).
Role / Depth Chart
Defensive edge rusher for the Rams working under DC Chris Shula. Shula is focused on putting Garrett in positions to succeed rather than constraining him to a specific role, comparing his approach to how coaches handle elite players like Michael Jordan or LeBron James—explicitly stating "you're not gonna take Michael Jordan, LeBron, all those guys and pull them out of their comfort zone." Garrett logged reps at outside linebacker during early OTAs but Shula will adapt the 3-4 scheme around Garrett's strengths rather than forcing him into a new mold. Shula's core philosophy is leveraging Garrett's elite pass-rush talents while maintaining the team's defensive principles. (per Rams DC on Myles Garrett adapting to scheme: You don't pull Michael Jordan, LeBron...)
His 125.5 career sacks (most among active players) and nine seasons of NFL experience provide leadership and disruptiveness in both pass rush and run defense. The Rams see him as a centerpiece alongside cornerback Trent McDuffie and safety Jaylen Watson—acquisitions that complete a transformed secondary and defensive front designed to compete for a championship.
TSN top-50 acquisitions ranking (July 28): TSN's annual ranking of 2026 offseason impact places Garrett at #1 overall, emphasizing his role in the Rams' defensive transformation under DC Chris Shula. Per the ranking, "The Rams went all-in this offseason to upgrade the defensive side of the ball for coordinator Chris Shula, and the move to land Garrett tops our list. He was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year last season while setting the single-season sack record (23)." The article reaffirms Garrett's status as the year's most impactful acquisition across all positions. (per Ranking the NFL's top 50 most impactful off-season acquisitions - TSN)
Injury Status
August 11-12 knee swelling: Garrett sat out Tuesday's joint practice against Dallas due to knee swelling. He told reporters he felt about 85% healthy, but HC Sean McVay erred on the side of caution and held him out. By Thursday he was working with trainers on the sideline ahead of the Rams-Chiefs preseason game. McVay said Garrett is "making really good positive strides" and was working toward his "return to performance." While McVay wasn't transparent about a specific timeline for Garrett's return (raising some concerns given McVay's historical tendency to lack transparency on injuries), the recurring knee swelling bears monitoring. This hasnít reached the point of serious concern yet — Garrett's still expected to be ready for the regular season — but given the Rams traded three draft picks for him, any lingering knee issue into the regular season would be notable (per Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua Injuries Becoming Worth Monitoring for Rams). No long-term concerns flagged at this point.
August 25 ongoing knee swelling: Garrett remains out of practice, now having missed 12 total practices due to minor knee swelling. HC Sean McVay continues to downplay the absence, saying "The goal is, what can we do to be able to get him ready to roll for Australia?" (the Rams' Week 1 game against San Francisco). The lingering swelling suggests this is ongoing maintenance rather than a serious injury, but McVay's lack of transparency on timeline continues to raise minor concerns. Garrett is still expected to be available for the regular season (per Myles Garrett remains out of Rams' practice).
Recent News
- 2026-08-30 — Aaron Donald ends his retirement, joins Myles Garrett with Rams on a 1-year, $20... (Aaron Donald ends his retirement, joins Myles Garrett with Rams on a 1-year, $20...)
- 2026-08-30 — Aaron Donald comes out of retirement, joins Myles Garrett with Rams on a 1-year, $20... (Aaron Donald comes out of retirement, joins Myles Garrett with Rams on a 1-year, $20...)
- 2026-08-27 — What It Would Take for Cleveland Browns to Trade Myles Garrett; 4 Potential Scenarios (What It Would Take for Cleveland Browns to Trade Myles Garrett; 4 Potential Scenarios)
- 2026-06-05 — IDP Defensive Line Fantasy Football Rankings 2026: More Than Just Myles Garrett (IDP Defensive Line Fantasy Football Rankings 2026: More Than Just Myles Garrett)
- 2026-08-25 — Myles Garrett remains out of Rams’ practice (Myles Garrett remains out of Rams’ practice)
- 2026-08-24 — Myles Garrett praises sister missionary’s viral homecoming tackle (Myles Garrett praises sister missionary’s viral homecoming tackle)
- 2026-07-28 — Ranking all 32 NFL edge rusher groups: Myles Garrett puts Rams at No. 1 (Ranking all 32 NFL edge rusher groups: Myles Garrett puts Rams at No. 1)
- 2026-08-07 — Rams Manage Matthew Stafford and Myles Garrett to Protect a Super Bowl Push (Rams Manage Matthew Stafford and Myles Garrett to Protect a Super Bowl Push)
- 2026-06-03 — CJ Gardner-Johnson Shares Cryptic Message After Eagles Trade AJ Brown (CJ Gardner-Johnson Shares Cryptic Message After Eagles Trade AJ Brown)
- 2026-02-19 — Should Bengals go after Maxx Crosby? The cases for, against pursuing Raiders star (Should Bengals go after Maxx Crosby? The cases for, against pursuing Raiders star)