Myles Garrett is a Los Angeles Ram after nine seasons in Cleveland. ESPN’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Adam Schefter collectively wrote Monday, “The Cleveland Browns have traded two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jared Verse and multiple draft picks, the teams announced Monday.”
“The Browns received a first-round draft pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028 and a third-rounder in 2029 in what is one of the biggest trades in NFL history involving a defensive player. The Rams initially offered a package of picks in return for Garrett, but Cleveland held firm to its public stance of not dealing its defensive standout, according to sources.”
Blowback from the trade could be felt leaguewide, and here’s how it specifically affects the Minnesota Vikings.
The NFC Arms Race Gets Another Jolt
NFC May Be Unwinnable
Most NFL pundits don’t consider the Vikings a serious contender in the first place, and they for damn sure didn’t promote Minnesota to the top of the list — or anywhere close — after Garrett became a Ram.
Instead, Los Angeles’s bid for another Super Bowl ring only increased, according to oddsmakers, so much so that the rest of the NFC looked like a bunch of spectators on Tuesday morning. Los Angeles has a +550 moneyline to win it all, with Minnesota living in territory near the Washington Commanders at a +4500 moneyline.
The Rams entered the week as the NFC favorite. Adding Garrett strengthened sportsbooks’ resolve. Or — think of it this way: if you believe the Vikings can be sneaky-good, that’s great. Is that sneaky-good analysis enough to possibly upset the Rams in January? Oofta.
Roster Moves to Keep Pace with Rams?
The Vikings, of course, as an organization, won’t “mail it in” just because the Rams acquired Garrett. In fact, there’s a decent chance that they do the opposite — build their roster this summer and before the trade deadline in November to go to war against Los Angeles deep in the postseason.
What does this mean? At this stage in the offseason (summer), that translates to trades. Other than potentially signing an EDGE rusher like Joey Bosa or Jadeveon Clowney, very few free agents are available on the wire to tip teams over the edge. Hell, Minnesota already explored this strategy by signing Jauan Jennings.
Via trade, Minnesota could target a more dependable center — like Aaron Brewer in Miami — or a cornerback, perhaps one from the San Francisco 49ers’ roster. Nothing will compare to Garrett in Los Angeles, but that’s because of its true blockbuster nature.
Still, looking to put his thumbprint on the operation, new general manager Nolan Teasley could proceed boldly, making moves to compete with the Rams, refusing to roll over and die. Every team should now act as if its roster is not good enough to beat the Rams. That’s how much the Garrett trade changed the league.
Packers Play the Rams in 2026; Vikings Do Not
Also: the Vikings lucked out and do not play the Rams during the 2026 regular season. By luck of the draw, Minnesota will “sit this one out” when it comes to playing the Rams, but the Green Bay Packers will not.
Los Angeles and Green Bay square off in Week 12, a day before Thanksgiving, in a contest that could be a decent indicator of the NFC’s power structure in November.
Somehow, the Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions will not see the Rams in 2026, unless their names are drawn during the postseason tournament. In regular-season speak, it’s a good year to avoid the Rams. It feels like the only thing that could derail Los Angeles is a Matthew Stafford injury, thrusting rookie Ty Simpson into action.
A Copycat Model in a Copycat League
Listen, the Vikings just hired a new general manager — on the same day Los Angeles traded for Garrett. There’s a long way to go before Vikings fans get to know that man, Teasley, and his tendencies. But there’s a chance he adopts the Rams’ blueprint — trading draft picks for starters — especially if the Rams win their second Super Bowl in five years by using the strategy.
Normally, general managers might stay in their lanes and embrace their personal roster-building philosophies, but if the Rams explode this season and win the Super Bowl, theorizing about the Vikings’ draft picks available for trade cannot be ruled out.
Indeed, it’s a copycat league.
