Cleveland Browns superstar edge defender Myles Garrett publicly requested a trade, and the other 31 teams should all have at least a passing interest in adding the generational pass rusher. The first-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Texas A&M product has been perhaps the most dangerous force at his position since entering the league, winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023 while making six Pro Bowls and four First-Team All-Pro squads.
Breaking: Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Browns star Myles Garrett has requested a trade.
Exclusive statement:
— Ian Rapoport (@rapsheet1.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 11:13 AM
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The Cleveland Browns say they’re not entertaining Myles Garrett trade offers, but that could change as the offseason progresses. Garrett isn’t holding out for a new contract, he just wants to win football games. The Browns don’t have a way to do that, as the Deshaun Watson contract has effectively handicapped the franchise for the next few seasons. The 29-year-old is closer to the end of his career than the beginning, and Garrett wants to spend the back half of his career contending for a title.
Seeing as the Browns have no way to make him happy, it’s safe to assume Cleveland will start answering calls on a Myles Garrett trade in the coming months. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, most executives around the league believe Cleveland could ultimately trade the pass rusher for a first-round pick and a veteran or another mid-round pick. This is a reasonable price for one of the game’s elite players, and the Chargers, Chiefs, and Panthers should be willing to pay it.
Reported Cost of A Myles Garrett Trade Leaks
The Los Angeles Chargers made the playoffs in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh. Parting ways with multiple poor contracts in the offseason, the team didn’t have the financial resources to address their biggest needs or adequately rebuild the organization in Harbaugh’s image. Now, they have over $63 million in cap space and are ready to establish themselves as a legitimate contender, and there’s no better way to do that than with a Myles Garrett trade.
Edge defender Khalil Mack will play at least one more year, but the impending free agent may not return to the Chargers. Former first-round pick Joey Bosa, meanwhile, is a cut candidate with a staggering $36.4 million cap hit. Cutting Bosa saves over $24 million, which the team can use to retain Mack, trade for Garrett, and still have enough spending money to bolster the interior offensive line and pass-catchers. If the Chargers play their cards right, they could go on a deep playoff run in 2025.
Other Fits
Nobody wants the Kansas City Chiefs to trade for Myles Garrett, which means he’ll probably be lining up alongside Chris Jones in Week 1 next year. Kansas City is currently preparing to play in their third Super Bowl in as many seasons, but this is not a perfect roster. Chris Jones is still one of the league’s top defensive tackles and veteran George Karlaftis is a reliable pass rusher, but they lack a true star on the edge. While the Chiefs will struggle to make a trade work financially, the team would be unstoppable with Garrett on the roster.
The Carolina Panthers won’t contend for a Super Bowl in 2025, but their stock is pointing up. First-overall pick Bryce Young played up to his draft capital down the stretch and all the pieces that supported his growth will return next year. The biggest issue is fixing a defense that ranked at or near the bottom of every statistic. A Myles Garrett trade would shore up the biggest weakness and probably turn this into a borderline top-15 unit, and that’s before adding anyone else. If Carolina can sell Garrett on their future, he’d be a perfect fit for this team.
Main Photo: Tommy Gilligan – Imagn Images
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