The Los Angeles Rams completed one of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason Monday, acquiring star pass rusher Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns. However, according to reporting from The Athletic, head coach Sean McVay made sure to handle the situation with departing edge rusher Jared Verse personally before the news became public.
The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue and Zac Jackson detailed how McVay approached the trade process, noting that moving a player from the Rams’ young core was the primary source of hesitation throughout negotiations.
“For McVay, the idea of parting with a player from the Rams’ young core was his only reason for pause throughout the process. He also did not want the details to leak before he got a chance to speak with Verse. The teams agreed to try to keep everything as quiet as possible until the two could speak, according to multiple league sources. A source with knowledge of their conversation said that Verse handled it ‘with pure class.’”
The blockbuster deal was first reported by ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
“Bombshell: The Browns are finalizing a trade that will send two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, per @rapsheet, @TomPelissero and me.
In exchange for Garrett, the Rams are expected to send Pro-Bowl edge Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick and other draft-pick compensation still being negotiated to the Browns.”
Rams double down on championship pursuit with Myles Garrett trade
Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
The move underscores Los Angeles’ aggressive approach entering the 2026 season. The Rams are coming off a 12-5 campaign that ended with a 31-27 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. The season before, Los Angeles fell 28-22 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round.
Garrett’s arrival comes after the Rams already strengthened their roster earlier this offseason by acquiring standout cornerback Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs. Together, the additions signal a clear commitment to maximizing the championship window around veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.
While Garrett headlines the transaction, the reporting surrounding Verse’s departure offered insight into the culture McVay has built in Los Angeles. By ensuring Verse heard the news directly from him and by keeping negotiations quiet until that conversation took place, the Rams sought to handle a difficult personnel decision with respect.
Verse’s reported reaction only reinforced that approach, as both sides appeared to part ways professionally amid one of the offseason’s most significant trades.
The Los Angeles Rams completed one of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason Monday, acquiring star pass rusher Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns. However, according to reporting from The Athletic, head coach Sean McVay made sure to handle the situation with departing edge rusher Jared Verse personally before the news became public.
