Rams' Sean McVay Reacts to Myles Garrett Trade, Aaron Donald NFL Comeback Buzz

You can bet that Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is happy to have superstar pass-rusher Myles Garrett on board following Monday's trade with the Cleveland Browns.

"Being able to acquire a player like this, these things don't come up often," he told reporters Tuesday. "... He is a pain in the ass to game-plan against. I'm glad we don't have to do that anymore."

He also spoke on the growing chatter about Aaron Donald possibly returning to the team after the Garrett acquisition:

The Rams paid a pretty penny to acquire Myles Garrett, giving up Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third. But the team clearly believes Garrett is the final piece needed to get over the hump and win another Super Bowl.

Not that it didn't take some time to warm up to the idea of giving up such a haul.

"When Cleveland made the adjustment (to Garrett's contract), I thought I'd just check in, Andrew Berry and I have a good relationship so I would pester him, probably jokingly at first, but then we began talking more seriously, discussed draft compensation, draft came and went," general manager Les Snead told reporters. "And then we picked talks back up, and where it got a little tough, they asked for Verse in return. And similar to Cleveland, at first we were a no, based on all Jared has done for our organization, but as the June 1st date got closer, we kinda had a decision to make, we knew where Cleveland stood, we knew where we stood, and we proceeded to make the trade."

Garrett, 30, is a seven-time Pro Bowler, five-time first-team All-Pro and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He notched an NFL-leading 23 sacks last season to go along with 60 tackles (33 for loss), 39 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles and a pass defensed.

His addition instantly gives the Rams one of the best defenses in the NFL (and if Donald decides to come out of retirement, however unlikely that might be, L.A. would be even scarier).

It was an all-in sort of move from the Rams. But with Matthew Stafford nearing the end of his career and a talented core already in place, it was a gamble worth taking.