Myles Garrett Trade Rumors Fueled by NFL Exec After Contract Adjusted Despite Berry, Haslam Comments

One NFL executive isn't so sure that Myles Garrett's long-term future is with the Cleveland Browns.

"The report of the option bonus date moving later for Myles Garrett makes me think Cleveland is planning on trading him," the exec told The Athletic's Mike Sando.

ESPN's Field Yates reported on March 25 that the Browns and Garrett "agreed to modified language" in his deal. Under the new terms, his option bonuses for 2026, 2027 and 2028 don't kick in until seven days before the start of the regular season. They were originally slated to be triggered in mid-to-late March.

While that gives Cleveland more salary cap around free agency and the NFL draft, trading him is also less cumbersome thanks to a later roster bonus date. The Browns won't be on the hook for as much dead money if they move him before then.

General manager Andrew Berry denied that being any impetus behind the contract restructure.

"If we wanted to trade Myles, we wouldn't have needed to make a contract adjustment," he told reporters at the NFL annual meeting. "So it doesn't have anything to do with that."

Berry also described the reigning Defensive Player of the Year as a "career Brown."

Team owner Jimmy Haslam struck a similar tone.

"Guys like Myles Garrett do not come along very much," he said. "They just don't. They don't come along. He is a unicorn. And Myles is an integral part of what we do at the Cleveland Browns."

The Browns don't look much closer to contending in 2026 than they were at the end of last year. Any playoff formula requires Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel or Deshaun Watson to deliver significantly better quarterback play.

Trading Garrett wouldn't be a popular move in Northeast Ohio. However, Cleveland isn't exactly winning a lot with him on the roster, and the 30-year-old defensive end isn't getting any younger.

At a certain point, cashing in on his massive trade value becomes a smart asset play.

Having Garrett and a playoff-caliber roster aren't mutually exclusive. Right now, though, you don't trust the front office to build that kind of supporting cast when he's still performing at an elite level.