Winners and losers from two massive NFL trades: Rams, Patriots on a Super Bowl collision course following splash deals

Winner: Rams and Patriots' Super Bowl chances

While Los Angeles and New England parted with potentially valuable first-round picks, there's a decent those could be Nos. 31 and 32 in the 2027 NFL Draft.

The Rams are favored to win Super Bowl LXI after acquiring Garrett. His addition gives Los Angeles the NFL's reigning MVP and leading passer (Matthew Stafford), as well as the leaders in receptions (wide receiver Puka Nacua), receiving touchdowns (wide receiver Davante Adams) and sacks (Garrett), an embarrassment of riches as it looks to once again hoist the Lombardi Trophy on its home turf at SoFi Stadium after previously defeating the Cincinnati Bengals there in Super Bowl LVI.

New England is looking to join an exclusive list of Super Bowl losers to win the championship the year immediately after suffering defeat. The Dallas Cowboys avenged a loss in Super Bowl V with the franchise's first Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl VI against the Miami Dolphins, who would go on to complete the only perfect season in league history the following year. It wasn't until the Patriots responded to a loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LII with a win over the Rams in Super Bowl LIII that a third team accomplished the feat.

For where both teams stand entering 2026, Garrett and Brown could be enough to tip the balance of power in Los Angeles and New England's favor. Both organizations set the expectations at Super Bowl or bust with their bold trades, making anything less than a date in Tinseltown on Valentine's Day 2027 a disappointment.

Loser: Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders

It's a bad sign for Sanders, who started the final seven games of the 2025 season as a rookie, that immediately following Garrett's trade, attention turned to his eventual replacement (if he wins the offseason position battle over Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel), Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.

That might be even more devastating news for Manning, but the Browns' decision to trade away their best player for a trove of future draft capital and ascending edge Jared Verse is a more immediate concern to Sanders and Co. The move doesn't bode well for the team's ability to surprise this season, which makes whoever earns the starting job little more than a seat-warmer for 2026.

Winner: Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith

Philadelphia may have not been so willing to embrace a Brown trade if not for Smith. In April, Eagles inside Jimmy Kempski wrote for PhillyVoice, "If A.J. Brown is traded, DeVonta Smith will immediately become the focal point of the offense.

"There are some within the organization who believe that if Brown were no longer with the team that Smith can have a similar jump in production that Jaxon Smith-Njigba had in Seattle once DK Metcalf was out of the way," Kempski continued.

Metcalf was dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason, and Smith-Njigba exploded as the focal point of the Seahawks passing game, earning first-team All-Pro honors and being named Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year after finishing the regular season with 119 receptions, 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

Smith, a former Heisman winner, has the skillset to put up huge numbers as WR1, and he'll finally have the opportunity to do so.

Loser: NFC West quarterbacks not named Matthew Stafford

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (it's best to say less about the Arizona Cardinals) will soon be having nightmares of Garrett — if they aren't already — playing him twice a season. Purdy gets him right out of the gate in Week 1, while Darnold celebrates Christmas with the first of two games against Garrett in a three-week span 

Winner: Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow

On the other end, no quarterback should be happier to see Garrett leave Cleveland than Burrow, who's taken his share of hits from the 2017 No. 1 overall pick over the years. Per Stathead research, Garrett has 12 career sacks against Burrow in 10 games, including three last season.

But that's not Burrow's problem anymore. At least not unless we get a Super Bowl LVI rematch.

Loser: Buffalo Bills

After giving up its stranglehold atop the AFC East to the Patriots last season, Buffalo might not get it back anytime soon. New England's gain also one-ups the Bills' earlier offseason trade for wideout D.J. Moore, showing that the Patriots' advantage begins at the top.

Winner: Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula

A rising assistant, Shula finds himself in a great position to soon land a promotion. He received multiple head coach interview requests during the most recent hiring cycle, and getting Garrett as part of his unit should only make him more attractive during the next.

Loser: Patriots wide receivers Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas

Heading into contract years, Boutte and Douglas will have fewer opportunities to make a splash in New England's offense. Brown and fellow offseason addition Romeo Doubs should command a substantial number of targets, leaving the two young stars fighting for a smaller slice of the pie.

Winner: NFL
Loser: NBA and NHL

We're in the middle of the offseason and the NFL is dominating headlines. Meanwhile, the puck drops on Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday, while Game 1 of the NBA Finals is Wednesday. Rather than focus being on those championship rounds, the NFL is again the center of attention, just like it wants.