NFL Rumors: Myles Garrett Trade Request Not a Contract Ploy; Browns Open to New Deal

Myles Garrett's trade request is not a contract ploy, as the Cleveland Browns are "fully comfortable" paying him a new contract, SportsCenter's Jeremy Fowler explained:

"I was told that this is not a contract ploy from Myles Garrett," Fowler said. "The Browns are fully comfortable paying Myles Garrett a new contract. Sometimes you see players make a trade request, the bigger play is to get more money. This is not a money thing, this is solely a winning issue. So what he says in his statement is exactly true, there's no hidden agenda here."

After the Browns finished the season 3-14, Garrett's intention is to join a winning team. Fowler was also informed that no amount of aggressive spending by the Browns to add talent during the offseason would sway Garrett's decision.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year officially requested a trade from the Browns on Monday following heavy speculation about the player's future.

In a statement shared by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Garrett expressed his desire to move elsewhere before the 2025 NFL season.

"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," Garrett wrote. "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.

The 29-year-old recorded 40 solo tackles this season, along with 14 sacks, which ranked second in the league, marking his seventh consecutive double-digit sack season. He also added three forced fumbles.

Last week, Cleveland's general manager made it clear that they had no interest in trading Garrett, saying, "You can put that on the record," per NFL's Eric Edholm. He added that the team intended to sign him to an extension.

According to Rapoport, Edholm's stance has not changed following Garrett's official trade request.

Garrett signed a five-year, $125 million extension in 2020, with a salary cap hit of $19.7 million in 2024 and $20.4 million in 2026. With a $5 million roster bonus due to Garrett on March 16, it's clear his trade desires are not motivated by money.

Since being drafted by the Browns in 2017 with the No. 1 overall pick, Garrett and Cleveland have made just two playoff appearances and hold a 53-78 record, including a winless season during Garrett's rookie year.

The six-time Pro Bowler has made it clear that he's ready to move on to greener pastures, and if the Browns front office does not accommodate his request, it could lead to a rough 2025-26 season for both Garrett and Cleveland.