Myles Garrett's impact may be even greater than Rams bargained for

When the Green Bay Packers traded Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks for Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons, many viewed the cost as rather expensive.

When the Los Angeles Rams traded edge rusher Jared Verse and three draft picks, including a first-rounder, to the Cleveland Browns for Myles Garrett, that steep price paid by the Packers was confirmed.

In two years, two of the NFL's top pass rushers have been traded away. And Parsons was so good for the Packers that he earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors despite an injury-shortened season. So Los Angeles has to be a bit amped up now, doesn't it? Oh, didn't you know? ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler ranked his Top 10 pass rushers.

Parsons came in at second place. Garrett topped the list.

Garrett's recognition as a premier pass rusher - the best in the business - is not news. Still, it's music to his new fans' ears. It's evidence that even the surreal experience of landing a two-time Defensive Player of the Year can be oh-so-real if teams are willing to withstand a little sticker shock. All this excitement and he has yet to put on his pads.

Myles Garrett brings more than sacks to Rams defense

Garrett is more than a pass rusher. But he's so darned good at sacking quarterbacks that he is often pigeonholed into that category. Garrett is also a wily veteran who has seen everything an offense can throw at him. Even against double-teams, triple-teams, and all other progress-impeding tactics, he still wins routinely. So what does the maestro of defensive maelstroms bring to Chris Shula's defense?

1. A chance for the Rams pass rush to explode

Led by 12 sacks from Byron Young, LA finished in eighth place with 47 as a team. Swapping in Garrett's 23 sacks last season for the 7.5 generated by Jared Verse would add 15 more to the Rams defense. And that is before accounting for all the focus Garrett diverts from other players by generating pressures.

"His ability to feel and navigate at the line without much wasted movement is elite," an NFL executive said of Garrett, via Fowler.

The Rams might not get 23 sacks from him in 2026 - then again, they might - but they can expect a sizable increase. Adding the net gain from Garrett minus Verse would give LA a monstrous 62 total. That's just the first-blush impact Garrett brings. But let's press on.

2. An elite mentor for young Rams defenders

Garrett has seen it all in nine NFL seasons. And you know he will be an open book for his young teammates in the Los Angeles pass rush. Among Braden Fiske, Josaiah Stewart, and Young, only the latter has more than two years of experience and he is still on his rookie contract. But everyone will benefit from mentor Myles.

On the sidelines and alongside him on the field, teammates will watch how he operates. Garrett is a walking, talking masterclass of how to deal with any array of offensive tricks. As the face of the Browns defense, he has learned how to defeat double- and even triple-teams.

3. An Aaron Donald lure

This would be a bonus. Whether or not Aaron Donald decides to unretire, the thrill of having Garrett on the roster remains. In any case, only a player of Garrett's caliber could revitalize the NFL's fixation on the legendary Donald, despite his retirement. Resurrecting the latter's career would be a major plus on Garrett's report card. Indeed, getting No. 99 back on a football field would be a modern-day miracle.

4. A cheat code for dictating opponent strategy

No offense can afford to lose sight of Garrett. Offensive lines having to devote all that focus to one player will open up entirely new opportunities for Shula's defense. In essence, Shula will dictate what offenses can do rather than having to react or respond.

Garrett's presence alone can neutralize the downfield passing game. No quarterback is eager to call a play that depends on his offensive line stopping Garrett in his tracks. With that in mind, defensive backs can inch closer, snuffing out short-range passes and runs as well.

Pop that popcorn. Chill those beverages. The show is about to start. And from what we're seeing in the program, you won't want to miss a single thing.

As always, thanks for reading.

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