Joe Burrow, Bengals Are the Biggest Winners After Myles Garrett Trade

The Cincinnati Bengals already had plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about the 2026 season. Joe Burrow remains in his prime, the defense has undergone a dramatic overhaul, and the front office was more aggressive this offseason than at any point in recent franchise history. On Monday, they received another piece of good news from within the AFC North.

The Cleveland Browns traded two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick. The deal ranks among the most significant defensive-player trades in NFL history and could carry major implications for the balance of power within the division.

Garrett, 30, is coming off a historic 2025 season in which he recorded 23 sacks, setting the NFL’s single-season sack record. He earned another First-Team All-Pro selection and continued a stretch that has seen him establish himself as one of the most dominant defensive players of his generation. Over the last six seasons, Garrett recorded at least 12 sacks in every year while consistently altering opposing game plans.

The Bengals know that reality better than most. Garrett has been a constant challenge for Cincinnati throughout Burrow’s career, and in Week 18 last season he registered the record-breaking sack at Paycor Stadium. That player is now in the NFC and will not face the Bengals in 2026.

Cleveland received a significant package in return, headlined by Verse, a young pass rusher with considerable upside, plus multiple premium draft assets. Still, replacing Garrett is not a simple task.

Verse is a talented player and a former Defensive Rookie of the Year, but Garrett has been the centerpiece of Cleveland’s defense for years. His departure removes one of the league’s most feared pass rushers and leaves a substantial void in a unit that has been built around his presence.

The Bengals spent the offseason rebuilding their own defense, adding players such as Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Cashius Howell, Bryan Cook, and Kyle Dugger. The goal was to close the gap with the AFC’s top contenders after a disappointing 2025 campaign. Now, one of the biggest obstacles they faced twice every season is no longer in the division.

The AFC North just lost its most dominant defensive player. That does not guarantee a division title, nor does it eliminate challenges from the Baltimore Ravens (Trey Hendrickson) or Pittsburgh Steelers (T.J. Watt). But removing Garrett from the schedule is a meaningful development for a Bengals team that believes it is built to contend.