Browns Leaving Clues on Possible Myles Garrett Trade

Myles Garrett wants to compete for a Super Bowl, so it was perplexing when the seven-time All-Pro defensive end signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Cleveland Browns in 2025.

The extension comes months after Garrett requested a trade from Cleveland on the premise that he had a “desire to win.”

The Browns were in quarterback purgatory at the time. While Cleveland’s offense has been among the best units in the league the last few years, the offense has been the main reason the team has won just eight games since 2024.

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There has been chatter around the league that the Browns could trade Garrett this offseason while the team rebuilds under new head coach Todd Monken. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggested the Browns have been leaving clues that they’re open to trading the star pass-rusher.

The Browns delayed the execution of his $29.2 million option bonus until September. Monken noted last week that he had not been in communication with Garrett.

“The breadcrumbs have been there for a while,” Breer wrote of the possibility the Browns would trade Garrett. Two months ago, the team and Garrett's camp agreed to delay the execution of a $29.2 million option bonus from late March to a week before the regular season begins, making a trade more feasible in that Cleveland got more runway to send the entirety of his 2026 compensation away with him.

“Then, last week, Todd Monken told reporters that he hadn't yet met with Garrett. Obviously, you can add those two realities to the fact that, come June 1, the cap damage can be spread over two years, and you might think something is up.”

The Browns are a rebuilding team, and they have promising young players from the draft classes of 2025 and 2026.

However, Cleveland isn’t ready to compete in the AFC North. After Aaron Rodgers signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns are by far the worst team in the division.

Trading Garrett would allow the Browns to continue building its roster in next year’s draft, which would help the team finally get out of the mess it made by trading for Deshaun Watson.

Garrett, 30, would have the opportunity to join a contender while he’s still in the prime of his career.

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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 1:32 PM.