Dawgs By Nature
It’s fair to wonder if Myles Garrett views the Browns’ situation as hopeless.
Myles Garrett has been the subject of trade rumors since the Cleveland Browns started the season 1-6 with Deshaun Watson under center. The star pass rusher made headlines late in the year when he admitted that he would need to see what the plan was moving forward from the team.
One could assume that Garrett doesn’t buy into the plan that was presented by Andrew Berry. As evidenced by his trade request, it may look closer to a rebuild rather than a refresh. Like all of us, Garrett and his agent understand that this quarterback class is weaker than last year, and the free agent market doesn’t look any better.
Berry has made it clear that he has no intention of trading Garrett at every opportunity, however, he may be forced to take an offer despite there being two years left on his contract.
This isn’t the first time that Berry has had a disgruntled player wanting out. In his first year as GM, he dealt with a trade request from David Njoku that ultimately kept him in Cleveland by refusing the demand.
Garrett making his request public does provide the Browns cover to make the move and could be a gift for Berry. For a team that needs a QB, piling up picks for next year may ultimately be the route to go. The dilemma then becomes how to be competitive enough in 2025 to keep the front office and coaching staff intact for 2026.
Garrett is due for a new contract and perhaps the negotiations haven’t gone according to his liking. Receiving a haul for Garrett could replenish the draft capital lost in the Watson trade.
The main obstacle would be that Garrett would want to go somewhere with a winning roster in place and that would make the first-round picks you get back, less valuable.
Let’s also assume that the Browns refuse to trade him to an AFC team, that would make teams like Detroit, Washington, Philadelphia, and Minnesota the front runners. Perhaps teams like Green Bay, Chicago, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta could also be in the mix.
Two first-round picks would be the starting point but the Browns will certainly seek more. How they maneuver this request before the NFL Draft in April will ultimately decide their future.
What do you think? Does Garret’s trade request signal a plan that requires a rebuild in Cleveland? Let us know in the comments below.
