There's no such thing as a quiet period in the NFL, and the Los Angeles Rams just proved it by pulling off a blockbuster trade for All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett. In exchange for the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year, the Cleveland Browns got pass rusher Jared Verse, a first-round pick, and another undisclosed selection. Lost in the details is that the seismic deal will greatly benefit the Jacksonville Jaguars.
That's right, the Jags are slated to face off against Cleveland in the season opener, and not having to deal with Garrett suddenly increased their odds of coming out on top.
The Jaguars won't have to deal with Myles Garrett when they play the Browns in Week 1
Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the Myles Garrett trade, and several outlets have since confirmed the move. With the All-Pro nod in the mix, the LA Rams suddenly become a Super Bowl contender, while the Browns get the ammo to address the larger scale roster.
The first overall pick in 2018, Garrett is arguably the most dominant defensive end in the NFL, amassing seven Pro Bowl selections and five First-Team All-Pro designations throughout his career. On top of that, he set a new league record for sacks in a season with 23 last year. Simply put, it's easy to see why Los Angeles took a wild swing.
Make no mistake, Jared Verse is a game-changer but isn't in the same echelon as Garrett. This may have prompted Rams general manager Les Snead to strike a deal. Still, the trade could vastly benefit the Browns if they make the most of the draft picks they got.
For the time being, though, the Cleveland pass rush will deal with a steep dropoff. Verse is now the unquestioned No. 1, but the duo of Alex Wright and Julian Okwara may not be ready to fill the void left by Garrett. This could turn out to be great news for the Jaguars.
The Jaguars have a favorable matchup with Myles Garrett out of the mix
Already, the Jaguars had a favorable matchup against Cleveland. While Deshaun Watson is making a comeback attempt and Shedeur Sanders is seemingly making strides, the Browns don't have a legitimate answer at quarterback. Couple that with the fact that their defense has several holes at all three levels, and Jacksonville could be coasting to a win.
On the other hand, the Jags cannot take the Browns lightly. With the newly hired head coach Todd Monkey at the helm, their offense could experience a surge. He had Lamar Jackson playing at a league-MVP level when he was the offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens. Perhaps he could also get the most out of either Sanders or Watson. Similarly, whoever starts behind center won't have a shortage of talent.
With running back Quishon Judkins in the mix and a pair of electrifying receivers in KC Concepcion and Jerry Jeudy, Watson (or Saunders) could light up the scoreboard.
Having said that, it feels like this is a matchup the Jaguars should be able to win. And with Myles Garrett bolting for the LA Rams, they have no excuse. Heck, the last thing Jacksonville wants is to lose a winnable game to start the season.
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