Joe Thomas Says Moving Myles Garrett Was Right, And The League Just Watched A Power Shift
Holy smokes, did you guys see what went down in Cleveland? The NFL world is still reeling from the blockbuster trade that sent Myles Garrett, a legit superstar, from the Browns to the Rams earlier this month. And guess what? Joe Thomas, the legendary O-lineman who played with Garrett back in his rookie year of 2017, just weighed in, and his take might surprise you, even if it cuts deep for Browns fans.
The Painful Truth About A Superstar Goodbye
Look, when you're talking about Myles Garrett, you're talking about a dude who was the heart and soul of that Cleveland defense for EIGHT whole years. After Thomas retired following their single season together, Garrett became *the* guy. He was their best player, the one bright spot when things got rough. You remember last year, when the Browns were out of the playoff hunt early, but Garrett still gave their fans something to cheer for, chasing that sack record and finally getting it? That commitment on the field, man, you could feel it.
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So, to see a guy like that get shipped off? It’s tough, no doubt. The 12s here in Seattle know what it's like to cheer for a player with that kind of fire, that kind of impact. It’s never easy to say goodbye to a legend in his prime. But this is the NFL, a brutal business, and sometimes, even painful moves are the ones you gotta make. The Browns got Jared Verse as part of the trade package, which is a major return.
"Valuable Asset": Why Cleveland Pulled The Trigger
Thomas didn't pull any punches when he talked to SiriusXM NFL Radio. He admitted the news probably caught a lot of people by surprise. But he also knew deep down there was always a chance Cleveland would move Myles. Why? Because they were in a specific situation, and Garrett was a "valuable asset." Think about that for a second. When you have a player of that caliber, a generational talent, he holds immense value, not just on the field, but as a trade piece.
That quote, though: "Yeah, I mean, I think the news came out, it probably caught a lot of people by surprise. I knew there was always going to be a chance that the Browns [would trade] Myles, just knowing the situation they’re in and the valuable asset they had. But for Cleveland fans, it’s tough, right? Because for several of those seasons that Myles was here in Cleveland, he was the one thing we got to cheer for, right? Last year, out of the playoff hunt for a long time, but it gave us reason to be proud as Browns fans, to see him chasing that sack record, and to finally get it. And just to see the commitment that he had on the field to his team, to the" , Thomas gets it. He understands the fan pain, but he also sees the bigger picture, the strategic play.
What This Means For The League Heading Into Next Season
This trade, even though it didn't involve our beloved Seahawks, absolutely shifts the landscape across the league. A player of Garrett's caliber moving teams changes the whole vibe. It reminds every fan, every team, that even your foundational superstars aren't untouchable when the right deal comes along. Our guys, like Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Rashid Shaheed, they're building something special with Sam Darnold under Mike Macdonald, and seeing moves like this from other teams just underlines how important it is to keep building smart and staying hungry.
It's a tough pill for some fanbases, but it’s a chess match out there. What will this move mean for the rest of the AFC? We’ll be watching closely when the season kicks off. Get ready for a wild ride, Emerald City!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.