Matt Johnson
Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett surfaced in NFL trade rumors at the start of the offseason after requesting to be moved to a Super Bowl contender. As clubs continue to explore ways to try and acquire the All-Pro pass defender, there’s evidently a critical date looming on the offseason calendar.
The Browns front office has been adamant about not trading its Defensive Player of the Year. Andrew Berry, the club’s general manager, told reporters in early February that the club would even reject two first-round picks if another team offered it for Garrett.
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- Myles Garrett contract (Spotrac): $19.722 million cap hit in 2025, $20.374 million cap hit in 2026
While the Browns have the leverage in this situation, Garrett can at least make things complicated. He made the media rounds in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, making it clear he wanted to play for a Super Bowl contender and his desire was about playing for a competitor rather than landing a new contract.
The Browns roster, even if the club finds a quality starting quarterback this offseason, isn’t in a place where it’s ready to compete at that level. Trading Garrett ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft would at least provide the club with immediate help on rookie-scale contracts, but even that seems unlikely.
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ESPN‘s Dan Graziano explained that because of the Browns’ cap situation and how Garrett’s contract is structured, it’s highly unlikely the team would move him before June 1. If Garrett was traded before June, Cleveland would have a $36 million dead cap hit.
- Myles Garrett stats (ESPN): 28 QB hits, 22 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 11.5 stuffs, 3 forced fumbles
With the 2025 NFL Draft taking place from April 24-26, that means any potential deal wouldn’t include draft picks who could immediately contribute to the Browns next season. It further incentivizes the Browns to keep Garrett, as trading him would just leave a massive dead cap in the years to come and they wouldn’t gain any draft capital in 2025.
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It further increases the likelihood of the Browns making Garrett play out the 2025 season in Cleveland, perhaps offering a multi-year extension and bringing in a veteran quarterback to make him feel better about the situation. Given the salary-cap ramifications and the team’s stance, Garrett seems unlikely to be traded until the 2026 offseason.
