3 & Out - BLOCKBUSTER NFL Trade Day: Myles Garrett to LA Rams, AJ Brown to New England + NFL Offseason Mailbag

The Herd with Colin Cowherd1h 12mJune 2, 2026
AI-Generated Summary

The NFL's blockbuster trade day delivered jaw-dropping moves that reshaped the league's power structure, with the Rams acquiring Myles Garrett in a deal that redefines 'win-now' strategy. The trade, which cost the Rams Jared Verse and multiple high picks, was a bold gamble on a 30-year-old defensive superstar whose value remains sky-high despite age concerns. The podcast argues this isn't just a player swap—it's a statement of intent: the Rams are betting everything on a two-year window to win a Super Bowl, leveraging Garrett's dominance to elevate their entire defense. Meanwhile, the Browns' shrewd negotiation, refusing to trade Garrett without a premium haul, turned a franchise cornerstone into a generational rebuild foundation, positioning them with top-10 draft capital and a clear path to a quarterback. The Eagles' trade of A.J. Brown to the Patriots, while seemingly a downgrade, reflects a franchise prioritizing long-term flexibility over short-term flash, accepting a distant first-rounder in exchange for immediate roster clarity. The episode dissects the psychology behind such deals—how teams like the Rams and Browns operate with ruthless efficiency, and how players like Garrett and Brown are treated as assets, not just athletes. It's a masterclass in modern NFL economics, where draft capital is currency, and the most valuable commodity isn't wins, but the ability to make bold, high-stakes decisions in a league where time is the ultimate constraint.

Key Takeaways
1

The Rams traded Jared Verse and multiple high picks for Myles Garrett, betting on a 30-year-old defensive superstar to win a Super Bowl in a two-year window.

2

The Browns refused to trade Garrett without a premium haul, securing future draft capital and setting up a quarterback-driven rebuild.

3

The Eagles accepted a distant first-round pick for A.J. Brown, prioritizing long-term roster flexibility over immediate impact.

4

Myles Garrett's value is so high that even at 30, he's worth a massive trade package, proving he's still a 'plug-and-play' force in any system.

5

Draft picks are now treated as currency—future picks are discounted, making immediate assets like Garrett more valuable than distant ones.

…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus

Chapters
0:00
3 min

The NFL's Most Explosive Trade Day

What a day in the National Football League. We had trades galore. One of the biggest trades, feels like in the history of the NFL. Miles Garrett to the Rams.

Highlight
3:20
7 min

The Rams' High-Stakes Bet on Myles Garrett

They're going to pay essentially $100 million to get a guy that I think it would be disappointing that over the course of the next three years doesn't give them 50 plus sacks and 80 to 90 pressures a year.

Highlight
10:00
7 min

The Browns' Masterclass in Negotiation

The episode praises the Browns for refusing to settle, leveraging their leverage to demand a premium haul and setting up a future rebuild with top draft capital.

16:40
7 min

The A.J. Brown Trade: A Strategic Shift

Analysis of the Eagles' trade of A.J. Brown to the Patriots, highlighting the long-term thinking behind accepting a distant first-rounder.

23:20
7 min

The Psychology of NFL Trades

A deeper look at the mindset of teams like the Rams and Browns, comparing them to historical 'evil empire' franchises and the role of ego, leverage, and timing.

High-Impact Quotes
So they're going to pay essentially $100 million to get a guy that I think it would be disappointing that over the course of the next three years doesn't give them 50 plus sacks and 80 to 90 pressures a year.
John Middlecoff4:38
And the Browns had the leverage. They got to tell the Rams how high they wanted them to jump, and the Rams just kept jumping higher.
John Middlecoff30:28
The easiest way to talk to people in general, the kid's thing is just a genuine way. But you can always stroke people's ego. People like their ego stroked. Especially successful people.
John Middlecoff59:20
Speakers

Host

John Middlecoff
Topics Discussed
nfl trade deadline95%miles garrett trade90%ramses defense upgrade85%browns rebuild strategy80%aj brown trade75%draft capital value70%nfc west race65%fatherhood challenges60%
People & Brands

miles garrett

person

30xPositive

los angeles rams

organization

25xPositive

cleveland browns

organization

20xNeutral

a.j. brown

person

18xNeutral

new england patriots

organization

15xNeutral

john middlecoff

person

15xNeutral

jared verse

person

12xNeutral

stan kroenke

person

8xPositive

les snead

person

6xNeutral

ty simpson

person

6xNeutral

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