Myles Garrett Traded to Rams and the AFC North Is Still Spinning

Did you see the news that dropped on June 1st? The AFC North got rocked by a blockbuster deal that sent defensive titan Myles Garrett packing! Yep, the Browns traded Garrett, arguably their biggest defensive weapon, straight to the Los Angeles Rams. Talk about a seismic shift! Everyone in that division, from Baltimore to Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, has to be scrambling to figure out what this means for their season.

The Cleveland Fallout: One Defensive Leader Gone

Man, that Garrett trade to the Rams is still echoing across the league. One minute you've got a cornerstone, the next he's in L.A. But here's the kicker: even after losing Garrett, a massive defensive leader, there's word that Denzel Ward still wants to stay with the Browns. That's big, right? It tells you something about the locker room, or maybe it's a sign Cleveland isn't about to totally gut their defense. Either way, the Browns made a move nobody saw coming. You gotta wonder if they're looking at a full rebuild or if they think they can still contend without their star pass rusher. This is a crucial early-season trend to watch.

Across the AFC North: Everyone's Making Moves

While Cleveland deals with the Garrett fallout, the rest of the AFC North isn't sitting still. Over in Cincinnati, it looks like Shemar Stewart is dead set on putting his tough rookie season behind him. You love to see a young guy focused on bouncing back, especially in that cutthroat division. Then you've got Mike McCarthy, the Steelers' coach, out there saying Jalen Ramsey can bring a Charles Woodson-like impact to their secondary. Woodson-like! That's high praise and a massive expectation for Ramsey. The stakes are already high, and these early declarations just amp up the pressure.

The Ravens' Offseason Grind: Pass Rush and New Offense

Meanwhile, down in Baltimore, the Ravens are doing their thing. They might have slipped a bit in the Defensive Triplets Rankings, but hey, they're still in the Top 10. And they are HYPED about their pass rush. Word is, Mike Green is looking like he's on the verge of a double-digit sack season. Plus, some pundits are even calling Trey Hendrickson the best pass rusher the Ravens have ever had. That's a bold claim! Zion Young and Mike Green are apparently leading a ramped-up pass rush, and the team's offseason moves have definitely beefed up that strength. On offense, new Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle is impressing everyone. Players are loving the challenging packages he's installing, and everyone's calling him a "Human Computer." The guy's still deciding where to call plays from, but his influence is already massive. Trenton Simpson is feeling like this is his breakout year, and Kyle Hamilton is even predicted to win Defensive Player of the Year. And Aeneas Peebles is out to make sure last year doesn't happen again. Even Zay Flowers traded lucky cleats for candy. Roquan Smith is fired up to shut up some doubters, too. So what's next for the Ravens? They've got preseason games against the Eagles (August 15th), Vikings (August 22nd), and Commanders (August 28th). Then Week 1 kicks off on September 13th against the Colts. It's clear the AFC North is already shaping up to be a brutal battleground, and these offseason moves and early player developments are setting the stage for an intense season. You know we'll be watching every single snap.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.