Joe Flacco's view on the Garrett trade

After Myles Garrett was traded to the Rams, Joe Flacco briefly commented on the development. Comments from the AFC North front also drew attention...

Scraper SystemJune 02, 2026, 07:17 PM

The NFL trade period saw notable moves on Monday. Cleveland Browns' star defender Myles Garrett went to the Los Angeles Rams; in return, Jared Verse and a significant number of draft picks headed to the Browns. This move is seen as a "win now" step for the Rams. The Los Angeles team wanted to expand the window of opportunity with their quarterback Matthew Stafford and strengthen their defense further for a Super Bowl run. The situation is different on the Cleveland side. Although Garrett signed a high-value extension with the team in March 2025, he had publicly requested a trade beforehand. The Browns found an opportunity to build a younger core with 25-year-old Verse instead of the 30-year-old player. Another consequence of the trade was felt in the AFC North front. Garrett will now compete in the NFC West, thus facing his former rivals with a different scenario. Former teammate and Cincinnati Bengals' backup quarterback Joe Flacco summarized the issue briefly and sarcastically when asked. Flacco said that the trade was good for their team. Comments from Cincinnati were similarly distant but clear. Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. emphasized that they have to win on Sundays no matter who they face. Brown expressed respect for Garrett, saying he is a player who does his job well. For the new name from the Browns, Jared Verse, he gave an assessment of a young, talented, and respected defender. Right tackle Amarius Mims reminded how tough the AFC North division is. According to him, whether it's Myles Garrett or Jared Verse, every week in this division requires competing against top-level defenders. Thus, the trade was not just a player exchange between Los Angeles and Cleveland; it also brought back into discussion the balance in the AFC North, the perception on the Cincinnati front, and the new look of one of the league's defensively strong divisions.