The Los Angeles Rams made a patented splashy move on Monday, acquiring two-time AP Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade for former Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and a slew of draft selections, including a 2027 first-round pick:

Now agreed to and official: The #Browns are trading Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the #Rams for star edge Jared Verse, a 2027 1st-round, a 2028 2nd round, and a 2029 3rd, per me, @AdamSchefter and @TomPelissero.

The offseason's biggest trade is final and real. pic.twitter.com/DHsstnmoSl

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 1, 2026

The trade further solidifies Los Angeles as an upper-echelon team in the NFC, where it has competed with the Eagles for the past several seasons. The Eagles and Rams are set to face off on Oct. 4 at Lincoln Financial Field. The franchises have met four times since 2023, with the Eagles owning a 4-0 record. Last year, the Rams’ potential game-winning field goal was blocked and returned for a touchdown by defensive lineman Jalen Carter as time expired.

Garrett, the first reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year to be dealt in league history, faced Philadelphia just once during his time with Cleveland. He finished an October 2024 contest with four total tackles and no sacks. Still, Garrett is a game-wrecking presence that offenses are forced to scheme around. His 23 sacks last season with the Browns broke the NFL’s single-season sack record.

In the case of the Eagles, longtime tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson have experience with top-tier pass rushers during their strong careers. Both finished with top 10 pass-blocking grades in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, last season. Still, Garrett’s production and disruption across his NFL career are on another level than the game’s other top pass rushers.

Now, in offensive line coach Chris Kruper’s first season in Philadelphia after replacing 13-year coach Jeff Stoutland, Kruper faces the task of preparing for one of the most dominant edge rushers in NFL history at least once in the upcoming season.

Though the Eagles’ impressive tackles appear to provide them with a better answer for Garrett’s dominance than their NFC foes, Garrett did not rush strictly from the edge in Cleveland. The seven-time Pro Bowler utilized stunts and interior alignments to attack mismatches against slower guards.

Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula could take advantage of Garrett’s versatility against Philadelphia, which struggled to find consistent high-level play from its interior offensive line last season. Yet, Verse, whom Garrett is seemingly replacing in Shula’s scheme, registered just one rushing snap somewhere other than on the edge for the Rams last season.

The Eagles’ rushing attack could provide first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion with another avenue to work around dealing with Garrett. Should Saquon Barkley rediscover his 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year form after a down year last season, Mannion could shorten the game and limit Garrett’s opportunities to tee off in obvious passing situations. Yet, much of Barkley’s success is predicated on the Eagles’ offensive line, which returns five starters, stepping back into elite form after a 2025 campaign that lagged behind its high standard. 

By now, Verse’s history with Philadelphia is well documented. Prior to the Eagles’ divisional-round matchup with the Rams in 2025, Verse told the press, “I hate Eagles fans. They’re so annoying…When I see that green and white, I hate it.”

Verse received the crowd’s full vigor for his comments, but ended the game with seven tackles in a snowy Rams’ loss. Prior to the Rams’ trip to Philadelphia last September, he tipped his cap to Eagles faithful for how they challenged him. 

“I respect people that not only respect me, but that stand on business,” Verse said. “They stood on business with the situation. They came with their energy.” 

Now, Verse heads to the AFC North. In his stead arrives one of the best defensive players in NFL history to a team in Los Angeles rife with talent.