23. That's how many sacks the former Cleveland Browns' rusher Myles Garrett recorded last season. However, after the blockbuster trade deal between the Browns and the Los Angeles Rams, the debates started about whether Cleveland received enough value in return for one of the NFL's most dominant defenders.

Bleacher Report's Moe Moton graded the major trades and free-agent signings across the league. The Browns got a disappointing C for the blockbuster trade, with questions raised on the timing of the trade and the payment the Browns received.

"The Browns' money didn't fix everything, and they traded the star edge-rusher one year later," wrote Moe Moton of Bleacher Report. "Nonetheless, Cleveland may have been able to get more from Los Angeles with Garrett coming off a historic season."

Moton's evaluation on Bleacher Report suggested that Cleveland made its negotiating position weak by committing significant money to Garrett first. Since Garrett was coming off another elite season, they should have asked for a larger return from the Rams.

Instead, the franchise was left defending a move that should've earned praise from analysts and fans. Garrett was the face of Cleveland's defense during his time with the franchise.

The former Defensive Player of the Year dominated the game, including a historic 2025 season, which increased his value in the trade market.

The Browns got edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a conditional 2029 third-round pick, which can accelerate a rebuild, but moving a player of Garrett's caliber always comes with risk.

The Browns have to depend on the young core and offseason additions to replace the production and leadership that Garrett provided. For the Rams, the trade was an aggressive push to strengthen their talented defense with one of football's elite pass rushers.

While the observers notice Rams' benefit, the league insiders believe Jared Verse has only begun to scratch the surface of his potential in Cleveland.

NFL analyst says Jared Verse could play his best football for the Cleveland Browns

Jared Verse has already established himself as one of the NFL's fastest-rising edge rushers. During ESPN's annual rankings of the league's top pass rushers, an AFC executive praised Verse.

"Love Verse, but some of the other rushers higher than him have more variety, whereas Verse is all power at times,” an AFC exec said, via Fowler on ESPN. “But he's only going to get better and have a great career. He's a beast."

The AFC executive noted that Verse's expanding pass-rush could make him more threatening. He has also recorded 99 pressures since he entered the NFL, earned two Pro Bowl selections, and won the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

With no Garrett in Cleveland, the Browns are counting on Verse to become the cornerstone of their defense.

What are your views on the C grading of the Myles Garrett blockbuster trade? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Kalp Thaker