The Cleveland Browns sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in one of the most significant moves of the NFL offseason, yet the departure of the franchise defensive star nearly followed a different trajectory. According to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer, the Buffalo Bills had monitored Garrett’s situation for several years and launched a last-minute attempt to acquire the defender on the same day the Cleveland–Los Angeles deal became public.
Bills Made Late Push for Garrett
“But sources say another team called Cleveland on the day the trade leaked: the Bills, who had checked in periodically on Garrett’s availability for the better part of two years,” Pelissero wrote.
Buffalo ultimately could not match Los Angeles’ offer because the Bills lacked a player of Jared Verse’s caliber to include in a trade package. The Browns received the young defensive end along with three draft picks: a first-round selection in the loaded 2027 class, a second-round pick in 2028, and a third-round selection in 2029.
Verse Was the Centerpiece for Cleveland
Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry explained that acquiring Verse was a primary driver behind the decision to move Garrett.
“Chief among the considerations to make the decision was the inclusion of Jared Verse,” Berry said on June 1. “We receive a young, elite player at a premium position who will only continue to improve in his third NFL season. Jared’s passion and relentless style of play will be embraced by our fans. He will fit right in with the established identity of our defense.”
During the offseason, the Browns even proposed a rule change that would have allowed teams to trade draft picks up to five years into the future. The NFL rejected the proposal, though it raises the question of whether a more aggressive draft-capital package from Buffalo could have altered the outcome.
Age and Timeline Fit for Both Sides
While Cleveland builds for the future with Verse, the Rams acquire one of the most dominant defensive players in the league. Verse, a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, already owns two Pro Bowl selections and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in his debut season. At 25—turning 26 in November—his age aligns better with the Browns’ competitive timeline.
Garrett, meanwhile, is 30 and will turn 31 in December. He has dealt with knee issues during the Rams’ offseason preparation, causing him to miss part of the preseason. Los Angeles has confirmed, however, that he will be available for the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia.
Garrett Enters MVP Conversation After Historic 2025
Following a historic 2025 campaign in which he set the NFL single-season record with 23 sacks and captured his second Defensive Player of the Year award, Garrett has emerged as a legitimate candidate to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award.
Sports Illustrated reporter John Pluym named the new Rams star as his favorite for the top individual honor.
“Myles Garrett will win MVP. There have been only two defensive MVPs in NFL history: Alan Page on the 1971 Vikings and Lawrence Taylor on the 1986 Giants,” Pluym wrote. “Was there a bigger story this offseason than the Browns trading Garrett to the Rams? No. Garrett is the best player in the league and will finally have the opportunity to play on a winner after several frustrating years in Cleveland. I’m going to predict 25-plus sacks for him this season and a Super Bowl ring.”
