The NFL world was set abuzz on June 1 after a blockbuster deal sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport revealed the Cleveland Browns agreed to send Garrett to Los Angeles in exchange for Jared Verse, a first-, second-, and a third-round pick.
This was a shocking move many didn't see coming, and it made the Niners' pathway in the NFC West that much more difficult.
49ers watch as Rams land Myles Garrett in blockbuster trade
The 49ers already had to see the Seattle Seahawks hoist the Lombardi Trophy last season and watch the Rams make the NFC Championship game. And now, with the 2026 season quickly approaching, L.A. decided to take an even bigger swing on one of the best defensive players in the NFL.
In 2025, he finished with an NFL-record 23 sacks. Across nine seasons, Garrett compiled 412 total tackles, 149 of which were for a loss, 239 QB hits, 23 forced fumbles, and 125.5 sacks. He's now recorded double-digit sacks in eight consecutive seasons. He's a five-time first-team All-Pro and two-time Defensive Player of the Year.
And this player is joining the NFC West.
That isn't ideal for a Niners team that hopes to make another run in the playoffs. Thankfully for them, they still have Trent Williams after extending him for two seasons. That's huge, as Williams is still one of the better pass blockers in the NFL and will match up against Garrett.
Nonetheless, the Rams defense got better with the addition of Garrett to the fold. The 49ers have struggled in recent memory, as they've lost four of the last five games against Los Angeles. For the Niners to be a serious contender, they have to handle business inside the division. That's easier said than done, of course, and this acquisition has made things harder on that front.
In 2025, San Francisco managed to go 12-5 but finished third in the division. While it secured a playoff spot, there's no guarantee it'll happen again a year later. Especially with the questions around the defense with Robert Saleh no longer running the show. It doesn't help that George Kittle is rehabbing from a torn Achilles, and while the 49ers did sign Mike Evans and Christian Kirk before drafting De'Zhaun Stribling, Kittle is nevertheless a safety blanket for Brock Purdy. It's another worry point that's magnified with Garrett switching over to the NFC West.
While the 49ers still have belief in their roster going into the 2026 campaign, the Rams' landing Garrett is something that makes their path exceptionally harder.
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