CLEVELAND — Myles Garrett, the standout defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, has officially requested a trade from the team, aiming to enhance his chances of winning a Super Bowl, as he informed media sources on Monday.
The Browns concluded the season with a disappointing last-place finish in the AFC North, recording a 3-14 overall tally. General Manager Andrew Berry previously asserted that he would not pursue trade options for Garrett during the offseason, asserting confidence in Garrett’s future, which he envisions leading to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A representative for the Browns confirmed on Monday that the organization is not considering any trade propositions for Garrett at this time.
Garrett is contracted with the Browns for two more seasons as part of a five-year, $125 million extension he signed in 2020. In his statement, Garrett expressed his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL and his unwavering aspiration to attain a Super Bowl victory. “As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl — and that goal fuels me today more than ever,” he articulated. He acknowledged his affection for the Northeast Ohio community and the devoted fanbase of the Browns, describing this as a challenging decision in his life. He stated, “These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today.”
Garrett continued, highlighting the internal conflict he feels: “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. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton; it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl. With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”
Last season, Garrett was named the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year and is once again a finalist for the honor. His performance included an impressive 14 sacks, which placed him second in the league, making him the first player in NFL history to achieve 14 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons. Additionally, he holds the franchise record for career sacks with 102.5.
While attending the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, last week, Berry reiterated his stance against trading Garrett, even if a team were to present two first-round draft picks. “We feel really good about Myles obviously as a big piece of our future,” Berry remarked. “We’re looking forward to him being on the field. Like I said in my early January press conference, we envision him going from Cleveland to Canton when his career is over.”
Garrett’s contract stipulates that he has relatively low salary obligations for the next two seasons, amounting to around $20 million in base salary and bonuses in 2025, and $25 million in 2026, according to estimates. However, should the Browns go ahead with a trade, they would incur a significant dead money penalty. The team is presently projected to exceed the salary cap by $30 million in 2025, and trading Garrett would result in a $36.2 million dead cap charge due to bonuses already disbursed. In comparison, retaining Garrett would yield a more manageable cap charge of $19.7 million for Cleveland in 2025.
Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns seeks trade for Super Bowl opportunity
