Everyone associated with the Baltimore Ravens was thrilled to hear that former Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett was shockingly traded to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday. Garrett moving out of Baltimore's division delivers clear positive ripple effects across the city of Baltimore.
Unsurprisingly, star wide receiver Zay Flowers echoed the excitement that every Ravens fan is feeling about Garrett being traded.
“Yeah, everybody is,” Flowers said with a massive smile on his face. “I think everybody in Baltimore should be happy.”
Flowers is spot on by saying everyone in Baltimore should be happy that Garrett is no longer in the AFC North. While the Ravens have a winning record against Garrett (10- 6), he's always made things extremely challenging for Baltimore. Notably, he's recorded 14 sacks against the Ravens, including 5.5 sacks last season.
Simply put, nobody generates pressure to the level that Garrett does. He set the all-time sack record (23) last season while receiving immense attention from opposing offenses. His ability to consistently pressure the quarterback can wreck a team's offensive game plan. That, paired with his fierce run-stopping abilities, makes him arguably the league's best defender.
Overall, in every possible way, Garrett can derail any offense -- having a player like this out of the division is a game-changer for the Ravens.
Myles Garrett being traded is a huge break for the Baltimore Ravens
Of course, Garrett's presence most closely affects Lamar Jackson (and the Ravens' offensive line). Regardless, Flowers knows just how much Garrett's elite passing rush can spoil a team's passing game. Even with his route running chops, Flowers can have problems getting open quick enough with Garrett rushing the passer at the unbelievable pace he does.
Now, the Browns did trade for Jared Verse, who is a quality young pass rusher. With all due respect, though, Garrett is in a class of his own, and the Ravens' two matchups with the Browns got a whole lot easier after this move.
In a 17-game season, each game carries significant weight. It's not far-fetched to say that Garrett being traded could swing the Ravens' two meetings against the Browns, which in turn, could sway where they finish in the standings. As the Ravens try to return to their typical elite standards after a down season, having two easier divisional games will be a big difference-maker.
Baltimore's Week 16 matchup with the Browns could, in particular, carry some major implications. This is especially the case given that divisional games serve as tiebreakers in the standings. When it's all said and done, this game could help the Ravens secure an AFC North title.
There's no understating the magnitude of the Myles Garrett trade for the Ravens, and everyone connected to the team should be thrilled that he's with the Rams now.
Ultimately, Flowers' comments are a reflection of how everyone is feeling about this blockbuster.
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