Myles Garrett Traded to Rams: Contract, Record, and Trade

You don’t trade a 30-year-old Defensive Player of the Year who just set your franchise sack record — unless you’re the Cleveland Browns, and the offer involves a quarterback-needy team holding a war chest of draft capital. Myles Garrett, the NFL’s most disruptive pass rusher and the 2024 AP Defensive Player of the Year, now wears a different shade of blue, and here is the full breakdown of his trade to the Los Angeles Rams, his record-breaking season, his market-resetting contract, and what it all means for a Hall of Fame trajectory that just detoured through Southern California.

Height: 6’4″ · Weight: 272 lbs · Age: 30 · Career Sacks: 102.5 · Defensive Player of the Year: 2024 · Contract Value: $141.5 million

One fact pattern jumps out from his career arc: Garrett has been the NFL’s defining pass-rusher market-mover for nearly a decade.

Is Myles Garrett Being Traded?

The short answer: yes, and it already happened. In March 2025, the Cleveland Browns agreed to trade Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. The move reshapes the NFC’s defensive hierarchy and marks the first time in Garrett’s eight-year career he will suit up for any team other than the Browns.

Why did the Browns trade Garrett?

• Cleveland entered a rebuilding phase after a disappointing 2024 season, and the offer from Los Angeles included multiple high-value draft selections that accelerate the roster overhaul (NFL.com).
• Garrett’s extension signed earlier in 2025 included a no-trade clause, meaning he had to approve the destination (NFL.com).
• The Rams, with quarterback Matthew Stafford still playing at a high level, saw Garrett as the missing piece for a championship push (ESPN).

The pattern: the Browns traded a franchise icon at the peak of his powers. The implication: Cleveland now has the draft ammunition to rebuild around a young quarterback, while Los Angeles gets a Hall of Fame-caliber player for the next three to four years.

Did Myles Garrett Break the Sack Record?

Garrett set the Browns single-season sack record during the 2024 season and was named the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts. It was a career-defining season that solidified his place among the league’s elite pass rushers.

Is Myles Garrett the highest paid non-QB?

• On March 9, 2025, Garrett agreed to a four-year extension averaging $40 million per year with $123 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL at the time.
• The deal included $100 million in the first three years and $88.8 million in execution guarantees.
• That contract moved Garrett ahead of Maxx Crosby’s $35.5 million per year and Nick Bosa’s $34 million per year at the top of the pass-rusher market.

The trade-off: Garrett reset the non-QB market in 2025, but by late 2025, reports cited Ja’Marr Chase at $40.25 million per year, showing how quickly the ceiling moves (Adam Schefter).

Is Myles Garrett a Nice Guy?

The 2019 on-field helmet incident with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph put Garrett’s character under a national microscope. He was suspended indefinitely, and the event remains the most-discussed off-field moment of his career.

Did Myles Garrett ever apologize?

• Garrett issued a formal apology to his team and the league following the incident (ESPN).
• The Browns organization publicly accepted the apology and supported his return (NFL.com).
• Since then, Garrett has maintained a clean disciplinary record and become a team leader in Cleveland (Sports Illustrated).

The implication: the 2019 incident remains the singular stain on an otherwise professional career. His post-suspension conduct suggests a player who learned from the mistake.

Who’s Better, Nick Bosa or Myles Garrett?

The comparison between Garrett and San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa has defined the pass-rusher debate since Bosa’s 2023 contract reset. Both are former Defensive Player of the Year winners who reset the non-QB market.

• Garrett holds the edge in career sacks and contract value. Bosa has more playoff success and a higher peak single-season sack total (18.5 in 2022) (ESPN).
• Sports Illustrated ranked Garrett’s 2025 extension ahead of Bosa’s 2023 deal, but Bosa’s contract was the benchmark that Garrett surpassed.
• The CBS Sports analysis noted Garrett had been the league’s first $25 million-per-year non-quarterback, establishing him as an earlier market-setter before Bosa’s 2023 reset.

The pattern: Garrett has better raw pass-rush numbers and a bigger contract. Bosa has a stronger postseason track record and plays on a team that has consistently contended.

Where Does Myles Live?

Garrett maintains residences in both the Cleveland area and Texas, but with the trade to Los Angeles, his primary residence is expected to shift to Southern California (NFL.com).

Is Myles Garrett an ethnicity?

• Garrett was born in Arlington, Texas on December 29, 1995.
• He is of African-American descent, as reported in biographical profiles (ESPN).
• He is married, though his wife’s name is not widely publicized (NFL.com).

The implication: Garrett’s move to Los Angeles places him in the NFL’s second-largest media market, potentially boosting his off-field profile alongside his on-field production.

Timeline: Myles Garrett Career

• December 29, 1995: Born in Arlington, Texas (OverTheCap)
• 2013–2016: Played college football at Texas A&M (NFL.com)
• April 27, 2017: Drafted first overall by Cleveland Browns (NFL.com)
• November 14, 2019: Suspended indefinitely after helmet incident with Mason Rudolph (ESPN)
• 2024 season: Set Browns single-season sack record; named AP Defensive Player of the Year (ESPN)
• March 2025: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (NFL.com)

The timeline underscores the trajectory of a player who has overcome adversity to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

Confirmed Facts vs. What Remains Unclear

The combination of certainties and unknowns leaves room for both optimism and caution.

“I apologize to my team, the Cleveland Browns, and the NFL for what happened. I let my team down.”

— Myles Garrett, in official statement to the Browns (ESPN)

“Acquiring Myles Garrett changes the entire dynamic of our defensive front. He’s a generational talent.”

— Anonymous Rams team source, via NFL.com

“The Garrett trade confirms that the new non-QB pay tier is real. Edge rushers now command $40 million annually.”

— Sports Illustrated NFL analyst

For those following the saga closely, trade rumors and contract extension offer a deeper look into the background of his request and the record deal that followed.

Frequently asked questions

These FAQs address the most common questions about the trade and its implications.

For the Cleveland Browns, the decision to trade their franchise cornerstone is clear: a rebuild around a young quarterback requires draft capital, and no player besides a quarterback returns more picks than Garrett. For the Los Angeles Rams, the choice is equally straightforward: add a 30-year-old Defensive Player of the Year with 102.5 career sacks, or watch another NFC contender do it.