Report: Myles Garrett 'Not Open' to New Browns Contract, 'Slammed the Door' on Talks

One way or another, Myles Garrett intends to leave the Cleveland Browns.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the superstar defensive end is "not open" to signing a contract extension with the team and "Garrett and his camp... have apparently slammed the door shut on negotiations."

ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi also confirmed from a league source that Garrett will not negotiate a new deal.

Garrett has made it undoubtedly clear he wants to be traded this offseason, seeking to join a contender. The Browns have been adamant that they don't intend on granting him that wish.

"I wouldn't really touch on any conversations that I have with other teams, just respectfully," general manager Andrew Berry told reporters during this week's NFL Scouting Combine. "I don't think that's appropriate just for current and future business, but it's irrelevant to this situation because we're not interested in trading Myles."

The Browns, obviously, would prefer to extend Garrett and keep arguably the most disruptive edge-rusher in the sport in Cleveland. The 29-year-old is a six-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro selection and the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year. He's registered seven straight seasons with double-digit sacks and finished the 2024 campaign with 14 sacks, 47 tackles (an NFL-leading 22 tackles for loss), 28 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 2 player in the NFL last season, behind only Lamar Jackson, noting that Garrett "led all defensive linemen who played at least 300 snaps with a 92.3 overall grade and a 92.8 pass-rush grade. This was his fourth consecutive season with at least a 92.0 overall grade. He tied division rival Trey Hendrickson for the most regular season pressures with 83 and recorded an incredible 23.1 percent pass-rush win rate."

So yes, the Browns want to keep him.

"Myles, as you guys have all heard me say, he's a huge part of our organization, really good person, he's an awesome player," Berry told reporters. "I understand the trade request and everything, but our stance really has not changed. We can't imagine a situation where not having Myles as a part of the organization is best for the Browns."

Garrett has decided that it isn't what's best for himself, however, and other teams surely will have interest in acquiring him. This situation has the potential to drag out well into the summer if both sides dig their heels in.