CLEVELAND – Star defensive end Myles Garrett has expressed his desire to be traded from the Cleveland Browns, aiming to enhance his chances of winning a Super Bowl. This announcement was made through a statement sent to various media outlets on Monday.
After finishing last in the AFC North with a disappointing record of 3-14, the Browns’ general manager, Andrew Berry, had indicated just last week that he would not consider trading Garrett, emphasizing that he envisions him transitioning from the Browns to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A representative from the team stated on Monday that they are not open to any trade discussions regarding Garrett.
Garrett is currently under contract with the Browns for two more seasons, following a lucrative five-year extension worth $125 million that he signed in 2020. In his statement, Garrett shared, “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. My love for the community of Northeast Ohio and the incredible fanbase of the Cleveland Browns has made this one of the toughest decisions of my life. These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today.”
He continued, “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.”
Garrett, recognized as the Associated Press NFL defensive player of the year last season, is once again in the running for the award. He achieved 14 sacks, placing him second in the league, and he made history by being the first player in NFL history to record 14 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons. Additionally, he holds the franchise record with a total of 102.5 career sacks.
While at the Senior Bowl preparations in Mobile, Alabama, last week, Berry reiterated to reporters that he would not entertain trade offers for Garrett, even if a team provided two first-round draft picks. “We feel really good about Myles obviously as a big piece of our future,” Berry stated. “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.”
Financially, Garrett has relatively manageable salaries lined up for the next two seasons, with approximately $20 million owed in base salary and bonuses in 2025, and $25 million due in 2026, according to Over The Cap. However, if the Browns opted to trade him, they would incur a significant dead money penalty. The team is projected to be $30 million over the cap in 2025, and trading Garrett would result in a $36.2 million dead cap charge due to previously paid bonuses. Conversely, retaining Garrett in 2025 would only count against the cap as $19.7 million for the Browns.
