Myles Garrett Officially Requests Trade Out of Cleveland

Myles Garrett has made it clear that he wants his future in the NFL to be with a different team next season, ideally one that has genuine championship aspirations. The Cleveland Browns, on the other hand, have recently communicated their reluctance to part ways with their All-Pro pass rusher. However, the question remains: will they stick to this firm stance? Should the Browns reconsider their position, Garrett's status as a trade candidate is likely to ignite a frenzy among interested teams eager to add his exceptional talents. It is hard to overstate the impact that Garrett, at just 29 years of age, can have on a franchise. The reality is that all 31 other teams in the league would jump at the chance to add one of the most disruptive forces in the game to their roster.

Acquiring a player of Garrett's caliber would undoubtedly require a hefty return; potential trades would need to reflect his stature as one of the premier defensive players in the league. Furthermore, any team looking to acquire Garrett would also face the challenge of navigating his contract situation. He is currently in the latter part of a five-year, $125 million deal, which still has two seasons left. However, a trade could very well lead to discussions about a lucrative contract extension, which would narrow the list of potential candidates considerably.

Garrett, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, has expressed his primary motivation as the pursuit of Super Bowl victories. His sentiments resonate strongly given the Browns' struggles, especially following a disappointing 3-14 season. "While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent," Garrett stated in a heartfelt declaration on Monday. The frustration of having posted double-digit sack totals in all but his rookie season is surely insurmountable, especially when a franchise continuously falls short on their end of the bargain. In 2024 alone, he showcased his prowess with 14 sacks and three forced fumbles, further solidifying his status among the very best pass rushers in NFL history.

To date, Garrett boasts an impressive career tally of 102.5 sacks across 117 games. Despite his remarkable individual achievements, including being selected for the Pro Bowl six times and earning the coveted title of Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, the Browns have struggled to achieve consistent success during his tenure. They have made the playoffs only once during his career, after which he saw the franchise let go of the quarterback who helped bring them there, Baker Mayfield.

It is hard to decipher what went so wrong over the course of Garrett’s career in Cleveland, but it is no surprise that the superstar edge rusher wants out. He has given everything he has to this franchise, and despite that, the team has failed to put a winning formula around him. Many will look to blame the decision to bring in Deshaun Watson as the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak, and that is honestly a fair assumption given what we have seen come from it. However, I believe that Cleveland’s mismanagement goes back far beyond that, to a point where they just continuously fail to get out of their own way. The way I see it, the franchise should do right by one of its greats and grant Myles his trade request to a quality contender. The potential haul they will get in return will be massive, and the franchise can use it as a stepping stone toward launching yet another full rebuild. That said, if Cleveland is firmly committed to not wanting to trade Garrett, things could get messy, and one should expect a long, drawn-out feud that could last past the NFL draft in April.