Alex Smith: Joe Burrow Will Sleep MUCH Better with Myles Garrett in NFC West

Rich walked into the show with a little extra pep. He'd been working out, the endorphins were flying, and there was one more source of energy he couldn't ignore: big-time football news in June.

"There's nothing like the NFL reminding anybody June 1st, June 2nd, have your head on a swivel," Rich said. Then he brought on Alex Smith, three-time Pro Bowler and Sunday NFL Countdown analyst, to talk about the Myles Garrett trade to the Rams.

Smith's first reaction was about the audacity of it. "I'm not sure this trade happens 20 years ago, Rich. I just don't know if teams have the guts," he said. In his view, the trade environment in the NFL has evolved and GMs are more willing to take risks. Even so, this one stunned him. "The generational talent that Myles Garrett is, this is arguably one of the greatest defensive ends of all time in his prime that just got traded. That sounds insane."

He pointed to the Rams' track record under Les Snead. This is the second time they've made a move this big, after the one for Matthew Stafford, and now they are doing it again after coming within inches of the Super Bowl before losing to the Seahawks. "June 1st is the NFL throwing haymakers," Smith said.

Rich got a little sentimental. When NFL Network started 23 years ago, Smith was one of the first future draft picks he got to interview. "You and I go back like a car seat," Rich said. Back then people asked what there could possibly be to talk about in June. His answer now: this.

On the question of who won, Smith refused to hand it to the Rams automatically. "I actually kind of like the haul that the Browns got," he said. Jared Verse is an unbelievable talent, and Cleveland gets the draft picks on top of that, "a chance for this organization to really press reset." The Rams, meanwhile, have a window with Stafford under center and a defensive line that was already great before adding Garrett, "an absolute nightmare off the edge every single play."

Smith compared it to the Stafford and Jared Goff trade between the Rams and Lions, a deal where you could argue both teams won. Detroit got redefined by the picks and Goff, and the Rams went on to win the Super Bowl.

Rich agreed Cleveland made a smart move. He acknowledged Garrett is "generationally brilliant," someone people mention in the same breath as Reggie White. But the Browns have a roster full of 22 and 23 year olds who will need to be paid soon, and Garrett is 30. Getting Verse, an "age appropriate peer" for those kids, plus draft capital, made sense to him. Rich was actually surprised Cleveland didn't do it a year ago when Garrett first asked out.

Smith added a warning that these swings can go bad, and the Browns know that better than anyone. He pointed to the Deshaun Watson trade and all the picks Cleveland sent to Houston. The Texans hit on C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., and now Smith sees Houston as a team that will be good for a long time. Cleveland is betting it can pull off the same thing from the other side of a deal. "Time will tell. They obviously have to hit on these picks," he said.

Then Rich got to the question in the headline. How is Joe Burrow feeling this morning?

"Oh my god," Smith said. "You don't have to play this guy twice a year." He recalled Garrett putting up six sacks in a single game last year and described what it's like to face him as a quarterback. You try to focus downfield, but "even when you just walk up to the line of scrimmage, this is a mountain of a man that you know is just hunting you every single play."

"Like it or not, that sits in the back of your head, Rich. It just sits there," Smith said. "I'm sure Joe Burrow will sleep much better."