Myles Garrett Traded to Los Angeles Rams: Now Even Greater Super Bowl Favorites
Jorge Martin analyzes the Rams trading for Myles Garrett and how it makes them a greater Super Bowl favorite, while questioning the Ty Simpson pick.
The Los Angeles Rams sent shockwaves through the NFL by trading for five-time All-Pro and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. This seemingly puts the Rams’ chips further into the middle on a Super Bowl run, though it also calls into question the recent draft strategy with their first pick.
Join Our Newsletter
Trusted by 400,000+ fantasy football players. Get access to Fantasy Life's free award winning newsletter and tools, all in one step.
By registering or logging in, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Rams Make Super Bowl Push And Trade for Myles Garrett
But first, going to the Browns are 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse, a 2027 1st, 2028 2nd and 2029 3rd. Verse is a rising star in the NFL, though his 12 career sacks in his first two seasons are barely more than the 23 sacks that Garrett registered last season to set the NFL record, previously held by Michael Strahan.
On the surface, this makes sense for the Rams. They were already the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl, but improved their odds to +650 on DraftKings to win it all. Garrett gives them the premier pass rusher in the NFL in his prime—he turns 31 on Dec. 29. The reigning DPOY is durable, having missed just four games since the start of the 2020 season. His production is also off the charts, as he’s compiled 95 sacks over that same time. The Rams also had room under the salary cap and Garrett’s contract was recently restructured to make a trade more possible now that we’re past the June 1 deadline.
The last time the Rams made the Super Bowl push was in the 2021 season, when the centerpiece of their defense was future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald. Visions of Donald taking down Joe Burrow on 4th and 1 with less than a minute left in the 2022 Super Bowl to seal the 23-20 victory must have been dancing in GM Les Snead’s head. Garrett is also a future Hall of Famer, and raises up a defense that has made upgrades in the secondary.
Earlier this offseason, the Rams traded another first-round pick to the Chiefs for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and then signed in free agency his former KC teammate Jaylen Watson. That revamped secondary, along with safety Quentin Lake at the star position, have the Rams poised to be one of the top defenses in the NFL and a target of fantasy managers who roster a DST. DC Chris Shula is also a rising star among assistants, and got head coaching interviews this year.
Garrett will lead a ferocious pass rush that also includes Kobie Turner and Byron Young, as well as defensive tackles Poona Ford and Braden Fiske, who led a defense that allowed just 88.5 rushing yards per game last season. That was 11th in the league, and could climb higher in 2026 with Garrett also a plus run defender.
Jared Verse to the Browns
Verse landing with the Browns is a decent return for Cleveland, as the Florida State star has been building on his career since being the first defensive player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. He turns 26 on Nov. 4 and is on his rookie deal where only after this season could he be up for a contract extension.
As good as Verse is, that Browns defense will take a step back without an outlier like Garrett coming off the edge. What made Garrett’s 23-sack season so special is that even as great as the Browns’ defense was, they were often in a negative game script late in games because the offense was one of the worst in the league. The Browns were 31st in the league with 279 points.
The Browns now own two first-round picks for what is expected to be a loaded 2027 NFL Draft. Quarterback appears to be a focal point for the Browns, who currently have a QB competition featuring Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders to be the starter in 2026. There’s a good chance that the Browns’ future signal-caller will come in next year’s draft, and the extra draft capital could assure the Browns of getting as high a pick as possible. That is if they don’t finish low enough in the standings to finish toward the top of next year’s draft. The Browns are currently at +20000 to win the Super Bowl, as the Cardinals (+30000) and Dolphins (+30000) are the only teams with longer odds.
Take 2 On Selection of Ty Simpson
The Garrett pick and the contract extension for Matthew Stafford through the 2027 season calls into question the strategy for drafting Ty Simpson at No. 13 a little more than a month ago. Ty Simpson was considered a reach that early in the draft, and many draft experts saw him as a project who would benefit from sitting for at least a year before taking over as a starter. That will happen behind Stafford and under the tutelage of HC Sean McVay. Though few saw Simpson as a player who could really lift up a franchise and be a true difference maker at the QB position.
Trading for Garrett means the Rams believe that Simpson is the QB of the future, no matter when he starts—remember, Jordan Love didn’t take over for Aaron Rodgers until after sitting for two seasons. Giving up a 2027 No. 1 pick, even one they expect to be at the end of the first round, really seals the deal that they are not going to focus on QB next draft season.
Premium
Go FantasyLife+
Your league is unique. Your advice should be too. Get personalized tools, rankings, and projections tailored to your fantasy football league settings.
Still, and this is me putting my Rams fan hat on, why draft a QB of the future who now won’t play for at least two seasons after Stafford’s recent extension? That pick could have been used on a WR like Makai Lemon or an offensive lineman. Even a defensive player who could have played this season, or been a part of a trade package for Garrett.
Yes, Snead and the Rams have played the “F— them picks” game plenty in the past, but having a player hold a clipboard for a season or two (or more) when they are in a Super Bowl window with an MVP-caliber QB is a head scratcher. Remember, the Super Bowl returns next February to SoFi Stadium, where Donald famously took down Burrow to seal the victory and launch his celebratory pointing to his ring finger. It’s going to be a curiosity if a player like Simpson sitting when the Rams could have made a great roster even deeper with a pick who could contribute on the field in 2026 comes back to bite them this season.
