AJ Hawk

But talks have been going on for weeks.

And I would almost say the selection of Ty Simpson and the hysteria around that, there was always assurances that there was another deal that was going to be made by the Rams.

And that assurance is not just for the fans, but for the quarterback as well.

Hey, we're not giving up on this season for you.

Don't worry.

You're going to get your money, which he did.

But we're also going to get you a premier, premier player.

And that premier, premier player is a defending sack champion, defensive player of the year.

And the type of guy that they look at in the same conversation as Aaron Donald is that good and what he can still do at this age.

And Munkin was giving you guys breadcrumbs throughout this entire process saying, I never met him.

And I'd like to see him.

This was in the works.

And I think both parties are very happy with the trade, Browns included, as they continue to build around the future and get piece after piece after piece until they can drop that quarterback down at the QB1 spot.

Yeah, and that's the hard part about this.

You give up a star player like Jared Verse, who's beloved there with the Rams, but both sides had been talking, and I could say it's been weeks.

They've been talking for weeks, and Verse was dropped in there at a certain point where the Browns couldn't turn around and just say no to this.

So those conversations were had, and I could tell you Barry and Snead and McVay and Munkin and, of course, the ownership groups, they have all been lock and key for the most part, saying we're not going to talk about this publicly until it gets over the finish line.

But in the last few days, it looked like the finish line was near.

And obviously, Jared Verse was the tipping point where the Browns said, OK, in exchange, we get a guy who is not only a top 20 pick who's gotten better every year, but he could be a super talent in addition to a first round pick.

So this was one where I think the Rams were really pushing it.