It’s the tip of a disappointing period for the Cleveland Browns. Myles Garrett, the league’s most proficient, athletic, and versatile move rusher is demanding a commerce to a contender with the purpose of profitable a Tremendous Bowl earlier than his profession winds down.
This could have been in Cleveland. The Browns ought to be a perennial contender within the AFC, not less than a staff routinely making the playoffs. As a substitute, the staff’s all-in commerce for Deshaun Watson despatched the franchise to the cellar, losing Nick Chubb’s greatest years, pressuring the entrance workplace to make quite a few trades to prop up Watson which didn’t work, and now it’s going to price them a generational defensive participant.
Sadly, the die is forged. The Browns can attempt to harm management all they need, GM Andrew Berry could make daring claims about holding Garrett — however we’ve seen this example play out earlier than. The longer Cleveland lingers, the extra they attempt to make this example work, it’ll solely serve to drive down Garrett’s worth available on the market with groups understanding the Browns are getting determined.
So, working below the idea this commerce will occur — what can the Browns count on? It’s good to say “two first-round picks,” however that’s not taking place. Garrett is an unbelievable participant, however he’s nonetheless a 29-year-old move rusher. He’s older than Tyreek Hill when he was traded from the Chiefs to Dolphins in a deal that included a 1st, 2nd, 4th, fifth, and sixth spherical decide. That’s kind of absolutely the ceiling right here, and can possible be much less.
One of the best transfer could be for Cleveland to try to discover a deal that nets them a primary and second-round decide, or a deal that entails a 1st spherical decide and a participant. So let’s see what could possibly be on the desk.
Detroit Lions
Lions obtain: DE Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns obtain: 1st spherical decide (2025), third spherical decide (2025), QB Hendon Hooker
That is the type of commerce that may actually make numerous sense for everybody concerned. The Lions’ move rush actually broke down following Aidan Hutchinson’s harm, and at this level the group ought to be within the mannequin of pushing the pedal to the ground and going all in. With ample cap house, and top-of-the-line rosters in soccer there’s a really actual probability placing Garrett on this staff pushes them excessive.
In the meantime, the Browns get some respectable draft capital — however extra intriguingly, Hooker. The 27-year-old QB was older when Detroit drafted him, and at one level, was the insurance coverage coverage in case Jared Goff couldn’t grow to be “the man.” Take into accout how unbelievable the Lions have been at drafting earlier than writing off Hooker. There might actually be one thing right here, and with this low-talent 2025 QB class it might make numerous sense for Cleveland to throw Hooker within the combine as a short-term choice to see if he will be the man, relatively than going all-in on a rookie QB.
With that No. 2 decide it now opens the Browns to take a substitute move rusher like Abdul Carter, and even doubtlessly Travis Hunter is the Titans really feel froggy at take a quarterback at No. 1.
San Francisco 49ers
49ers obtain: DE Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns obtain: 1st spherical decide (2025), 2nd spherical decide (2025)
There’s no query the 49ers are an elite staff who went by way of a really unhealthy season. The injury-riddled 2024 marketing campaign pressured the staff to play with out Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for almost all of the 12 months, killing the offense — and with out that every thing crumbled.
A commerce for Garrett would ship shockwaves by way of the NFL as San Francisco would get to pair him with Nick Bosa for some of the terrifying move rush duos the league has ever seen. In the meantime, it permits Cleveland to make the most of the Niners’ down season and get greater draft picks whereas nonetheless honoring Garrett’s need to discover a profitable staff.
Netting the No. 11 decide provides the Browns some leeway to discover the QB market within the draft, or doubtlessly soar up if somebody slides a bit too low — whereas additionally getting to make use of their No. 2 decide on a real distinction maker. It’s a “have your cake and eat it too” type of deal that night time be too good to move up.
Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams obtain: DE Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns obtain: 1st spherical decide (2025), 4th spherical decide (2025), WR Cooper Kupp
Each potential commerce article requires a wild one, so let’s spitball this concept. Sure, it will require some work from the Browns for a cap perspective, however everyone knows the wage cap is a made up assemble anyway that groups subvert on a regular basis with inventive accounting.
The Rams want extra move rush. Los Angeles was twenty second within the NFL in sacks, and there’s no query that Garrett might fully revamp the protection and provides the Rams a centerpiece participant they’ve been lacking since Aaron Donald retired.
In the meantime, this deal doesn’t assist the Browns when it comes to who’s throwing the ball, but it surely positive as hell upgrades their receiver group. Jerry Jeudy is the clear-cut No. 1, however after that the expertise pool dries up considerably. Elijah Moore is mediocre, Amari Cooper is a free agent — Cleveland wants one other receiver, and Kupp could be an amazing match right here.
Plenty of these participant trades are about giving the Browns freedom within the draft. This is able to make sure the staff doesn’t want to take a position a excessive decide in a receiver, not less than not but, permitting Cleveland to deal with different positions and are available again to it later. Chasing receivers hasn’t precisely labored out of them, however on this deal Kupp primarily being a throw-in makes a ton of sense.
Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears obtain: DE Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns obtain: 1st spherical decide (2025), 2nd spherical decide (2025)
The largest query right here is whether or not or not Garrett will be satisfied to drink the Bears’ Kool-Assist. It’s doable he might. Whereas the defensive finish made it clear he desires to be dealt to a contender, there’s a powerful chance {that a} new Ben Johnson-led period is ready to sway Garrett into believing the Bears are poised for a Lions-esque breakout.
Montez Sweat and Myles Garrett might do some harm within the pass-heavy NFC North, and it will give Garrett an opportunity to be the focus hero of the protection to a fanbase in dire want of hope. It makes for a compelling gross sales pitch.
In the meantime, the Browns get a Prime 10 decide they’d crave, plus the Panthers’ 2nd spherical decide (owned by the Bears), pushing their 2nd spherical choices even greater. The query is just whether or not Garrett desires a staff already established as nice, or one which could possibly be on the precipice.
