Proper replacements for Myles Garrett
By: Jake Rajala
It’s official: the Cleveland Browns are sending reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Verse and a first round pick. Verse will join a Browns defense that has a lot of talent. They still have Carson Schwesinger, Mason Graham, and Denzel Ward. With that simply said, I’m going to lay out potential replacements for the former Brown Myles Garrett.
Kavyon Thibodeaux
Kavyon is the Giants third best edge rusher (after Brian Burns and Abdul Carter). Even Arvell Reese can be an effective pass rusher from the inside LB part. In other words, Kavyon is expendable. He only played in 10 games last season and 12 in the season before that. He had 11.5 sacks, 12 TFLs, and four pass deflections in his last full season (2023).
Cameron Jordan
This is a no-brainer. Cameron Jordan is somehow available. Jordan is not only an elite pass rusher, but he is also stout against the run. He had a career reboot in 2026 (as he had 10.5 sacks), after having two sacks in 2023, and four sacks in 2024. The Saints have Chase Young and Carl Granderson at DE. They may not break the bank to reunite with Jordan.
Maxx Crosby
Anything is on the table right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if a team traded the house for Maxx Crosby. If the Browns can come back around and get a DE to join Verse, they would have won the Garrett-Verse trade. Crosby needs to prove he deserved to have the Eastern Michigan football stadium named after him.
Chris Jones
Chris Jones can dominate from the inside and outside of a DL. Jones and Graham would be a Top-5 IDL. We witnessed the impact that Jalen Carter had at DT for the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs a couple of seasons ago. Jones needs to clean up his mental errors, but he has plenty of upside at 31 years old.
Jadeveon Clowney
Jadeveon Clowney has been like fine wine. He stands out at the age of 33! He had 8.5 sacks, 12 TFLs, and four pass deflections. He even missed four games and still played quite well. Let’s not forget that he once played for the Browns. He still may have peaked in the Outback Bowl in college.
Danielle Hunter
The Texans have Will Anderson, who is arguably a Top-3 EDGE defender. On the other side is Danielle Hunter, who is a Top-10 pass rusher. The Texans could somewhat afford to lose Hunter. The Texans could acquire a WR from the Browns in such a deal, such as Jerry Jeudy.
Dante Fowler Jr.
Dante Fowler Jr. was a double digit sack guy in 2024 (10.5 sacks). Last season, he took a bit of a step back. He only had a few sacks, 10 QB hits, and three pass deflections. Fowler Jr. can rotate in, stay fresh, and make some noise on third and longs.
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