Why Myles Garrett waived no-trade clause to join Rams: ‘Bit of urgency’

Myles Garrett is officially a Los Angeles Ram. 

Garrett arrived in Los Angeles for a physical and an introductory press conference on Tuesday and told everyone exactly why he waived his no-trade clause and agreed to leave the only NFL franchise he had ever known. 

In a stunning trade, the Los Angeles Rams acquired Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns for Jared Verse and three draft picks. AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Garrett has ties to LA through his father who was born here, his friendship with Lakers’ superstar LeBron James, and his Olympic gold medalist girlfriend Chloe Kim, who is from nearby Torrance. 

Leaving Cleveland for the sunshine of Southern California, the beach, palm trees and plenty of primetime games seemed like a no-brainer for Garrett, but that’s the lazy narrative. The truth is a lot more complicated. 

“It definitely wasn’t an easy decision,” said Garrett. “I don’t take my time in Cleveland for granted. I did love being there. My family and I have become a part of the community. I started to plant roots. I had a home there, I was becoming friends with all the people in the neighborhood.”

So what ultimately led to Garrett’s decision to uplift those roots in Cleveland and come to L.A.? 

“Since the very beginning, it’s always been about winning,” Garrett said. “The opportunity to come here, have an immediate and profound impact on this team, it was something I just had to move forward with.”

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Garrett helps make the Rams Super Bowl contenders. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Garrett is 30 years old and in his prime. He is the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winner. Last season he broke the NFL’s all-time single season sack record with 23. He has already built a Hall of Fame résumé and become one of the greatest players in Cleveland Browns history. 

But do you know what he doesn’t have? 

A Super Bowl ring. 

And deep down, Garrett knows that time doesn’t carry about how many sacks he had in a season. 

“I see an opportunity to solidify myself here as among the very greats,” said Garrett of playing for the Rams. “I still have plenty of great years in front of me. I’m able to cement that legacy not only as a football city here in LA but as a winning DPOY and winning a Super Bowl or more. Those things are definitely pressing on my mind, and I have a bit of urgency to do it and do it right away.”

A year ago, Garrett requested a trade out of Cleveland. At the time, it seemed like he was desperate to escape. But then, he signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history at the time. His future was with the Browns. He talked about retiring in the orange and brown. 

But opportunity only comes knocking once. 

Garrett spent his whole career in Cleveland and emerged as arguably the best player in franchise history. AP

For years, the Browns sold hope. Every offseason brought another promise that the breakthrough was finally coming. When asked directly why he waived his no-trade clause to come to L.A. Garrett framed the decision around timing. 

“I asked myself, what does it realistically look like for me to be a winner now?” said Garrett. “To have an opportunity to do that was just too difficult to pass up.”

Not three years from now. Not after another quarterback, head coach, or rebuild. 

Now. 

That’s why Garrett left Cleveland. That’s why the Rams traded for pro-bowl cornerback Trent McDuffie in the offseason, extended Matthew Stafford for another year, and traded away an All-Pro defensive end in Jared Verse and a future first-round pick for the reigning DPOY. 

Now. 

“That was the hardest part of this decision,” said Rams head coach Sean McVay. “We had to part ways with somebody that we love and care about. We wish him the best of luck in Cleveland, but we’re excited about Myles.”

Following a trade of this magnitude, the pressure will be on Garrett to produce from day one. AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

The Rams were one play away from winning the Super Bowl four months ago. They have a proven MVP quarterback in Stafford. They have a roster loaded with talent from top to bottom. They’ve reached two Super Bowls and won one over the last five years. 

And perhaps most importantly, a franchise willing to be aggressive enough to trade away their future for an opportunity to hoist the Lombardi Trophy inside their own stadium…again. 

“You’re always threading that needle,” said general manager Les Snead about balancing sustainability with winning now. “That’s a hard one to thread.”

Ultimately, elite players want to play for organizations that are just as committed to winning as they are. And that’s what the Rams proved by pulling off this trade. 

They didn’t wait for Garrett to become a free agent. They acted now. 

Garrett was asked about what he’s looking forward to the most about being on the same team as the reigning MVP in Stafford. He pointed to late-game leads in L.A.

“Knowing I have the ability late game to pin my ears back, not just because we need a play to be made, but because we have the lead,” Garrett said.

Garrett is no stranger to LA as his girlfriend, Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim, is from Torrance, CA. NBAE via Getty Images

That’s the dream for elite pass rushers. Knowing when the opposing quarterbacks have to throw the ball and that they can go win the game by chasing them down. 

Garrett believes he’ll have more of those opportunities in L.A. than he would have had in Cleveland. And it’s hard to argue with him. 

Garrett talked about the urgency to win now. Not pressure. Urgency. Garrett has already proven he can become an NFL legend. 

But now he wants to be a champion.

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