Browns GM: Myles Garrett trade about goals, not tanking

Browns general manager Andrew Berry resisted computing whether Cleveland "won" the trade finalized Monday night sending Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for defensive lineman Jared Verse and other assets.

Because only one team parted with a player considered a near lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and in the past refused to even discuss dealing away one of the NFL's all-time leaders in sacks, Berry understands if fans are caught thinking, "Why now?"

"It got to a certain point where we looked at what the trade details were, and we asked ourselves, 'OK, do we hold here, regardless of how emotionally right it felt, or do we ultimately make a decision that will benefit the team in the short and long term?'" Berry explained Tuesday.

With the first-round pick from the Rams, the Browns have tandem picks in the top 32 in the 2027 draft. He said the Rams pushed persistently to acquire the All-Pro defensive end and met the detailed criteria the franchise set for any deal. Even as talks progressed, Berry said he wasn't confident a trade would happen.

The deal finally came together when the Rams added to their offer, knowing Verse plus picks put them in what Berry described as "a very narrow universe to satisfy" Cleveland's demands. The Rams added a 2028 second-round pick and 2029 third-round pick to turn the light green on the trade.

Berry said suggestions the Browns are "tanking" the upcoming season are unfounded. Garrett is only 30 and had his most productive season as a pro in 2025, but the Browns viewed the trade return as more than fair because of how highly they rated Verse.

"All of our goals are still in front of us," Berry said. "We have an excellent defense with really good players at all three levels. Jared is an outstanding -- he's one of the best players in the league. We're excited to have him as part of our team."

Verse is under contract for at least the next two seasons. He has a $4.1 million cap hit this year and is eligible for a fifth-year option in 2028.

Garrett's cap hit was only $8.14 million for 2026 but explodes to $57.99 million in 2029 and 2030 on the four-year, $160 million extension he signed last year.

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year played nine seasons and 134 career games and recorded 412 career tackles, 125.5 sacks, 23 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries with the Browns.

He owns the NFL records for sacks in a season with 23 last season and no player under 30 has recorded more in a career in league history.

He became the first player in NFL history -- dating to sacks becoming an official stat in 1982 -- to record at least 12 sacks for six consecutive seasons (2020-25) and is the only NFL player to record at least 10 sacks in each of the past eight seasons (2018-25).

--Field Level Media