While the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams had been working on the Myles Garrett trade for some time behind the scenes, the blockbuster deal came as a surprise to the rest of the NFL world.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year went from a bottom-feeder to a Super Bowl favorite, with Jared Verse and draft picks landing in Cleveland.
The trade is legitimately league-altering, and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase weighed in on Garrett no longer playing in his division.
Bengals Star Ja’Marr Chase Offers Blunt Take on Surprise Myles Garrett Trade
The AFC North had a rough 2025 season with just one team finishing over .500: the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bengals and Browns found themselves at the bottom of the division, separated by just one game. So, when the reigning Defensive Player of the Year leaves the division, as you’d imagine, Bengals players were quite alright with the trade.
Chase, though, didn’t have much of a reaction to the move.
“Good for us. I don’t really care, but good for us,” Chase told reporters on Wednesday.
Then, he was asked about his initial reaction when the deal went down.
“Yay, and then back to practice,” Chase said. “I mean, I really don’t care at the end of the day.”
It seemed like Chase was just focused on the Bengals and getting a team that has had Super Bowl aspirations for the last few years back to into contention.
Chase’s teammate, Tee Higgins, also chimed in.
“Good deal, but happy for him,” Higgins said. “I’m sure he’s in a good place, but it’s good for us as well, I guess.”
The Bengals, after making a run to the Super Bowl in 2021 and the AFC Championship Game in 2022, have finished 9-8, 9-8 and 6-11 over the last three seasons, largely in part to a very porous defense and injuries all around.
However, Cincinnati has shown that its offense can compete with the best in the NFL when healthy and it gives the team a chance to win any game.
While Cleveland wasn’t a real threat in the AFC North, the loss of Garrett will certainly impact the two meetings between the teams each year.
Meanwhile, Verse is a rising star in the league, and the Browns will continue to rebuild with an additional first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028, and a conditional third-round pick in 2029 thanks to the trade.
