New Myles Garrett Trade Rumors Surface as June Timeline Impacts Salary Cap for Browns, NFL Teams

The Cleveland Browns reportedly made a somewhat recent modification to superstar pass-rusher Myles Garrett's contract that suggests they are at least open to the idea of trading him.

According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, the Browns and Garrett agreed in March to defer $29 million in bonus payments due to Garrett over the next three years. The move opened no immediate salary-cap space, and it meant the Browns would have to pay Garrett $10 million in guaranteed money a week before the start of the regular season rather than in March.

Jackson added that "the only real explanation for the modification is that both sides were at least opening a trade window."

Per Jackson, teams interested in a trade "have known of Garrett's March contract modification since it happened."

If a Garrett trade were to happen, it would of course come down to compensation and whether opposing teams are willing to meet a high asking price.

Jackson suggested that the Browns would like three first-round picks or two first-round picks and a young player they covet in exchange for Garrett.

Should Garrett get traded at some point after Monday, it would be designated as a post-June 1 move, meaning the Browns would be able to spread the cap hit incurred over multiple seasons.

Citing OverTheCap.com, Jackson noted that a post-June 1 trade of Garrett would see the Browns take on $15.53 million in dead money this season and $25.56 million in dead money in 2027.

However, a trade would also save the Browns about $8 million against the cap in 2026.

Even if a trade does not happen this year, the Browns can defer guaranteed money in his contract from March until just before the start of the season in 2027 and 2028 as well, per Jackson, meaning Cleveland will have a window to move Garrett in the future.

The 30-year-old Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension with the Browns in March 2025, ending his public pursuit of a trade.

Garrett followed that up with a historic 2025 season, recording an NFL-record 23 sacks en route to being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons.

Although team success has eluded the Browns in recent years, Garrett has been a constant bright spot, earning seven Pro Bowl nods and five First Team All-Pro selections over the past eight seasons.

Garrett has also recorded at least 14 sacks in each of the past six seasons and at least 10 sacks in every season besides his rookie campaign in 2017.

As dominant as Garrett has been, the Browns don't appear to be anywhere close to playoff contention, at least not until they find a franchise quarterback.

Because of that, it could behoove the Browns to explore a trade involving Garrett if it nets them multiple high-round draft picks moving forward.