New Myles Garrett Trade Landing Spots as Reworked Browns Contract Fuels Speculation

Cleveland Browns edge-rusher Myles Garrett has been named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in two of the past three years. In 2025, he broke the league's single-season sack record with 23. He is one of the most talented and accomplished pass-rushers ever. A player who deserves to be mentioned alongside the likes of Reggie White and Lawrence Taylor.

And while the Browns can deny that the 30-year-old is available via trade until their faces turn blue, recent developments have ramped up speculation Garrett could be available.

That development (per ESPN's Field Yates) was a restructure of Garrett's four-year, $160 million contract that gives the team more financial flexibility moving forward. It also makes Garrett's massive contract more tradeable.

To be clear, a Garrett trade remains unlikely, and not just because the Browns are steadfast he isn't going anywhere. The dead cap hit involved in such a deal may be better than it was, but Cleveland would still be taking a sizable hit. Garrett's price tag probably starts with what the Dallas Cowboys got for Micah Parsons a year ago—two first-round picks and a veteran starter.

But in just the past year we saw Parsons dealt to Green Bay. Maxx Crosby was very nearly sent to the Baltimore Ravens. Blockbusters involving edge-rushers happen.

And if a Garrett trade does occur, these are the partners that make the most sense.

Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Erin Hooley

Given that the Chicago Bears were reportedly interested in dealing for Maxx Crosby before he was traded (and then un-traded) to the Baltimore Ravens, it makes sense that the team would kick the tires on a Garrett trade as well. After all, there's a reason why the Bears were interested in Crosby—as Richard Louis of Da Windy City wrote, as good as the bears were a year ago, the pass-rush was a weakness.

"In 2025, Chicago was tied for 28th in the NFL in team sacks (35)," he said. "Montez Sweat led the way with 10 sacks for the Bears, which is a fine total for him to have over a season, but Garrett is in another tier. Last season, he broke the NFL record with 23 sacks. He also had 33 TFLs, 84 pressures, and 45 hurries. Throughout his career, Garrett has been a game wrecker, logging 125.5 sacks in nine seasons. In addition, Garrett has finished with double-digit sacks in eight of those nine campaigns."

There is one major obstacle to this deal outside the enormous cost in draft capital the Browns will undoubtedly demand in a Garrett deal. Per Over the Cap, there isn't a team that is tighter against the salary cap than the Bears. It would take more than a few financial machinations from Chicago general managers Ryan Poles to get Garrett's contract under the cap, although including the aforementioned Sweat as part of the deal.

If nothing else, it's a move that would show that the Bears are all-in on winning a Super Bowl while Caleb Williams is still on his rookie contract.

Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

We know that the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns can make a deal happen--just one year ago, the Jags and Browns made a trade that enabled Jacksonville to move up and draft Travis Hunter.

Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated believes that Jacksonville should pick up the phone again—this time in an effort to land Garrett.

"Would general manager James Gladstone follow in the footsteps of mentor Les Snead and deal four years' worth of first-round picks for a ready-to-maximize roster? The Jaguars have an excellent defensive coordinator, Anthony Campanile, who is sure to interview for head coaching jobs again next season," he said. "The team will also struggle to retain offensive coordinator Grant Udinski if the team's success under Liam Coen continues. In terms of windows, Jacksonville's is upon us. Pairing Garrett with Josh Hines-Allen would create a havoc-wreaking defensive front that would throttle the vulnerable offensive lines throughout the division."

Pairing Hines-Allen and Garrett would admittedly give the Jaguars arguably the best pair of edge-rushers in the NFL. After a 13-win season and AFC South title last year, the Super Bowl window appears to be open for the Jags. And the Jaguars have a young-edge-rusher they could ostensibly make part of the deal in former No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker.

Money is a major roadblock to this trade too though—the Jaguars only have about $6 million in cap space. Cleveland also already has Jacksonville's first-rounder in 2026, so the Browns would have to wait until 2027 to gain the additional Round 1 picks that would undoubtedly be part of a Garrett trade.

Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead has never been shy about trading picks for established players. This is the GM who sent Jared Goff and multiple first-rounders to Detroit for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The guy who wore a "(Expletive) those picks" t-shirt to the team's Super Bowl parade in 2022. From 2017 to 2023, Snead dealt seven straight first-rounders for veterans. He just dealt one of the Rams' firsts in 2026 to Kansas City for cornerback Trent McDuffie.

A deal for Garrett would be a whopper. But as Blaine Grisak wrote for SB Nation, it would also be a sizable upgrade for a team that knows its Super Bowl window has an expiration date.

"A trade for Garrett would come at an astronomical price," he said. "The Rams would likely have to give up the 13th overall pick, a 2027 first-round pick, potentially one of Byron Young or Jared Verse, and maybe more. Still, while Young and Verse bring a lot of potential, both lacked the ability to consistently get to the quarterback last season. Meanwhile, Garrett broke the sack record with 23 sacks. That was more than Verse and Young combined."

Young and Verse are a solid young duo of pass-rushers. But the former is entering a contract year after 12 sacks in 2025, and Verse will soon be looking for a fat payday as well. The Rams are going to have to spend that money eventually, so the question is whether Garrett is a big enough upgrade over say Young to justify sending a top-15 pick and a 2027 first-rounder to Cleveland to obtain him.

Um, he is. Just saying. The Rams defense would be terrifying with Garrett.

San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

We might as well hang out for a bit in the NFC West.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch is another general manager who has demonstrated in the past that he isn't afraid to get aggressive in making trades. Granted, the Trey Lance deal was a disaster, but it showed Lynch isn't dead-set against shipping multiple first-round picks away to upgrade the roster.

The 49ers somehow won 12 games despite a million injuries and the fewest sacks in the NFL. That latter stat could spur the Niners to take a run at Garrett according to John Breech of CBS Sports.

"Garrett had more sacks last season (23) than the 49ers did as a team (20)," Breech said. "San Francisco finished with the fewest sacks in the NFL and needs any help it can get in the pass-rushing department. The team has already signed 33-year-old Mike Evans and appears all-in for 2026, making a Garrett trade the ultimate aggressive move."

The 49ers are in decent shape against the salary cap, with about $28.2 million in cap room. But there are roadblocks to a trade involving Garrett. The Niners don't really have a young player to send back to Cleveland—2025 first-rounder Mykel Williams saw his rookie season cut short by an ACL tear. And given what a debacle the Lance deal was, Lynch may be reluctant to once again deal multiple first-round picks.

However, Lance was a "maybe." Garrett is a "Hell yes" that would address one of the team's most glaring needs in a huge way.

Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/David Richard

Just the one more NFC West team—promise. It's doubtful that Garrett would waive his no-trade clause to join the Arizona Cardinals—to our knowledge, he doesn't like golf that much.

However, joining the defending Super Bowl champions could be a different thing altogether. And as Jeremy Brener wrote for Sports Illustrated, adding Garrett could be the move that turns the Seahawks into the NFL's next dynasty.

"This would be one of the biggest trades in NFL history, but the Seahawks would add arguably the best defensive player of the generation in this move," he said. "Pairing Garrett on the offensive line with Leonard Williams would form one of the most dynamic duos in the league, and other teams should be scared. The Seahawks defense was already one of the best in the league without Garrett, and adding him into the mix would create a whole lot of chaos. This is a deal that would help push the Seahawks into some dynasty conversations if they were to win the next Super Bowl."

A Garrett trade would be the ultimate all-in move from Seattle general manager John Schneider. In theory, the Seahawks have the cap space to make a trade happen—over $33 million. What they might not have is a player to include in the trade who would turn Cleveland's gears, so the team might have to up the draft capital involved by including say a Day 2 pick with two firsts.

Some may call this deal unnecessary—after all, Seattle just won the Super Bowl. But it's undeniable that Garrett would make Seattle's defense that much scarier.

Doesn't the Dark Side need Darth Vader?

New England Patriots

AP Photo/Steven Senne

As a rule, NFL teams don't generally like to trade players within their own conference—watching your former guy wreak havoc against you for years can get a little awkward. But a blockbuster trade like this comes down to the best offer made, and Rob Gregson of A to Z Sports thinks the New England Patriots would be wise to toss their hat into the Garrett market.

"Insert not only a ready-made starter, but the best defensive player in the NFL, and New England's Super Bowl window just got extended," he wrote. "Garrett may have just turned 30, but pass rushers have proven to excel into their mid-30s. Garrett also isn't your average pass rusher. He's tormented opposing offensive tackles and coordinators for years. I would love to see him with a defensive genius and culture setter like Mike Vrabel."

With quarterback Drake Maye still on his rookie deal, the Patriots cap situation is as good as it's going to get for a while—with over $35 million in wiggle room, the Pats have the sixth-most cap space in the league. The team could also stand to improve the pass-rush—while New England had a respectable 48 sacks as a team, but they also lost edge-rusher K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency.

Again, New England doesn't really have a player to include in the trade that Cleveland would covet (even if some fans would like to throw tackle Will Campbell in), so the cost in picks would be steep.

But if the Patriots are serious about winning the AFC again in 2026, it could be a price worth paying. And Maye would no doubt be glad to have Garrett on his side.

He sacked Maye five times last year.

Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

If the best defensive player in the NFL (and one of the best pass-rushers the league has ever seen) truly is available, you can bet the rent that Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is interested. Roseman hoards defensive line talent like a squirrel hoards nuts.

The Eagles have already been mentioned in rampant trade speculation regarding wide receiver A.J. Brown, and per Jared Mueller of Dawgs by Nature a Brown trade could actually help facilitate a Garrett deal.

"The Eagles won a Super Bowl with a dominant defensive line," he said. "Browns GM Andrew Berry has a close relationship with Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman, who employs Andrew's twin brother, Adam Berry, as well. The Eagles could ship out WR AJ Brown after June 1st, which could help offset both the trade haul going back to Cleveland and some of the salary cap-related issues. Philly is always willing to swing a trade, and Roseman's relationship with Berry has to help."

The Eagles have quite a bit of young talent on the defensive front (again, Howie Roseman), but after Jaelan Phillips got a monster contract from the Carolina Panthers, the team lacks an anchor on the edge.

Garrett would provide that anchor and then some. And one of those young players like edge-rusher Nolan Smith or tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter could be used as a pot-sweetener.

It's an admittedly bold move. But the Eagles are in a weird spot right now—they are a contender, but not regarded as a Super Bowl favorite. They are really good but not great.

Garrett could boost Philly back among the NFC's elite.

Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

The Buffalo Bills are heading into what could be a pivotal season for the franchise. The team fired head coach Sean McDermott after another loss in the postseason. General manager Brandon Beane was retained, but the edict from The Powers That Be was clear—just making the playoffs isn't good enough.

It's Super Bowl or bust in Western New York. The team already made a trade to obtain (hopefully) a No. 1 wideout for Josh Allen with the acquisition of D.J. Moore. In the opinion of SI's Alex Brasky, Beane should take the next deal next-level—and mortgage the future by throwing the house at Garrett.

"The Bills' leading pass rusher this past season, Greg Rousseau, finished the year with seven sacks and six tackles for loss," he wrote. "If the Bills were to make an offer for the Browns' star, it would likely start with three first-round picks, and maybe if they throw Rousseau or another talented player into the mix, they could have themselves a deal. While that may seem like too tall a price to pay, the Bills are a team desperate to get over the hump, and a player like Garrett would help them do so."

That's one lulu of an offer—and frankly, if the Bills made it the Browns should pull the trigger and trade Garrett. Two firsts and Rousseau is well worth considering. So are two firsts and a Day 2 pick. Three first-rounders? Done.

The Bills had just 36 sacks as a team last year. Garrett could make a good defensive line one of the league's best.

And if the Bills don't make the Super Bowl, Beane isn't going to care about the picks anyway.