What’s next: Why Myles Garrett can now become the GOAT pass rusher

The Los Angeles Rams blockbuster trade will allow the football world to see the NFL’s best pass rusher on the league’s biggest, brightest stage. By luring Cleveland Browns superstar Myles Garrett to Hollywood to help the reigning MVP make his final run at the Lombardi Trophy, the Rams are giving the seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time Defensive Player of the Year a stage that will not only cement his credentials as a future wearer of the gold jacket, but could also achieve “GOAT” status as the most talented pass rusher to ever don the pads.

As a former NFL player who played with Hall of Famers Bruce Smith, Reggie White and Derrick Thomas, and worked with the Carolina Panthers as a young Julius Peppers embarked on his Hall of Fame career, I am uniquely qualified to make that assessment based on watching and benefiting from their dominance and destruction at the point of attack. Considering three members of the aforementioned quartet rank in the top four in all-time sacks (No. 1: Smith, 200.0; No. 2: White, 198.0; No. 4: Peppers, 159.5), comparisons for Garrett are justified based on his performance and production over his first nine seasons.

Garrett, the NFL’s single-season record holder (23), has totaled 125.5 sacks in 134 career games. He’s been the model of consistency, with eight seasons with at least 10 sacks and 149 tackles for loss, including a whopping 55 since 2024 alone. There’s only one real flaw on his playing resume, and it’s out of his control: He’s appeared in just three playoff games.

As a featured playmaker for former Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, the 6-foot-4, 272-pounder attacked offensive guards and tackles like an NBA small forward running an isolation play on the wing. The quickness of Garrett’s first steps and his wide range of hesitation fakes and spin moves make him impossible to block without using a double team or a “chip” block from a running back or tight end.

Additionally, the athletic bag artist can win with power, using a lunge or two-handed punch to avoid blockers at the point of attack. Garrett’s clever use of delicate movements and old-school power maneuvers is complemented by his relentless motor. He’s a rare superstar who plays with the energy and enthusiasm of a practice squad member trying to earn a permanent roster spot.

Garrett’s competitiveness, resilience and effort are obvious, and it is one of his superpowers when evaluating his game. Reflecting on my time with Smith and White, the Hall of Famers also took tremendous pride in their conditioning. They were able to combine their skill with a non-stop engine that allowed them to outwork and outlast their opponents at the limits. Since Smith and White are also capable of taking down blockers with arms and “hump” maneuvers, their ability to win with finesse or force sets them apart from others at the position.

The two-time Defensive Player of the Year not only shares the explosive strength and power traits of the NFL’s all-time sack leader and runner-up, but also displays the electric athleticism that helped Peppers terrorize opponents from the edge. The explosive first step quickness and slippery maneuvers (dip and rip and stutter swimming movements) come straight from the former two-sport athlete’s playbook. With Garrett capable of single-handedly destroying game plans as a three-time All-Pro and member of the NFL’s All-Decade teams of the 2000s and 2010s, the Rams are adding a generational talent to the defense that will tilt the field in their favor every time he steps between the lines.

Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns catches Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Field on November 16, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Considering the Super Bowl LVI blueprint that produced Sean McVay’s first Super Bowl win, the Rams have recreated a defensive lineup with similar star power. Garrett takes over the role previously held by three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald as the disruptive force at the line of scrimmage. Although No. 99 did damage on the interior, the attention he drew created great playing opportunities for others on the front line.

Kobie Turner and Byron Young will certainly benefit from Garrett’s presence as they will see their one-on-one opportunities increase with teams sending two and three blockers in the direction of the sack leader. Given Young’s win rate (14%), according to ESPN Analytics, which ranked fifth among defensive tackles in 2025 without the All-Pro in the lineup, the fourth-year pro could see his sack numbers explode this season after tallying 24 in 51 career games.

Young quietly recorded 12 sacks a season ago, with a 16.8% pass rush win rate that ranked among the league’s top 20 edge defenders, according to PFF. As teams are forced to make tough decisions in passer protection with three credible pass rushers on the field, Garrett’s arrival could transform a good pass rusher into a great one by the end of the season.

Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns catches Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 14, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

General manager Les Snead and McVay have found a way to operate in “Super Bowl or bust” mode while planning a future with a young franchise quarterback in the bullpen. While the Rams’ acquisitions have cost them multiple first-round picks, the opportunity to add Garrett to a lineup that features an All-Pro defensive back (Trent McDuffie) and another coverage cornerback (Jaylen Watkins) should create a déjá vu moment that brings back memories of Super Bowl LVI when another GOAT led a title run with defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Eric Weddle in supporting roles.

With all eyes on the Rams, Stafford and Garrett attempting to create a storybook ending in Hollywood, the football world could finally see the game’s premier pass rusher on the super stage.