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Soon to be former Cleveland Browns super scary edge Myles Garrett fits everybody’s scheme. He’s chiseled by the Football Gods at an intimidating 6-foot 4-inches and 272 ripped pounds. He was the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a former first overall pick who’s lived up to it, he’s racked up over 100 career sacks. Name even the most challenging individual honor at his position and he’s either done it or will. Cleveland, Ohio is 60 miles from Canton, Ohio and Garrett will most assuredly take the short drive up the road to accomplish the biggest single honor an NFL player can receive, induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
There in lies the problem. Garrett is at the professional athlete wake up call age of 30 and knows his NFL clock of mortality is ticking. He will be immortalized in bronze some day but as one of the best individually and statistically successful players of his era or does he take the elevator up another floor into rare air with those who dominated and won? As terrifying as Garrett has been, his Browns teams are a putrid 53-78-1 since he joined the league. That’s just over six wins per season and only three playoff game appearances are on his resume in 2020 and 2023. The four-time All-Pro cited these facts in a release where he asked for a trade from the Browns:
He could have made this request much shorter and saved some ink: “The Browns stink, they’ll always stink and I’m out”, but there is something to be said for a polite as possible exit from a team that has paid you over $87 million to pound quarterbacks into the Cleveland dirt.
This is where the 49ers and the rest of the NFL teams, who undoubtedly are salivating at the thought of Garrett causing cold sweats and nightmares to their opposing QBs and offensive coordinators next season fit in. Before going all in on him and the resources that follow, they must ask themselves an honest, yet simple question: Myles Garrett fits everyone, but do we fit Myles Garrett?
To me these are the challenges that must be met in acquiring the Browns winning starved star:
CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER Uh, he just said it. Can your team win now? Teams who are out: (10) Patriots, Jets, Titans, Jaguars, Colts, Raiders, Giants, Bears, Saints, Panthers (49ers only won 6 games last season and the Cowboys, who is a team Garrett always said he wanted to play for being from Texas still make the winning list because the 49ers will and the Cowboys could.)
MONEY: It’s always about money, even when it’s not about money. Garrett’s current deal makes him the 5th highest paid edge rusher and has two seasons left, he’ll want more as part of a trade. Who has space now to absorb his AAV of $25M and would be will be willing to give him more before a deal is done? Teams who less than ideal cap situations and are out: Saints $-54M, Seahawks $-27M, in current cap hell.
NEED: Although most teams could use Garrett, some are well set at edge and have other roster issues to address, or have cheap , solid young players at the position and have other needs, so out based on lack of need or current resources being used at position: (5) Giants: Brian Burns-Kayvon Thibodeaux Texans Will Anderson-Danielle Hunter, Cowboys: Micah Parsons-DeMarcus Lawrence, Vikings: Jonathan Greenard-Andrew Van Ginkel, Rams: Jared Verse-Byron Young,
BROWNS WON’T TRADE IN DIVISION: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers are out.
WOULD PREFER GARRETT NOT BE IN THE AFC UNLESS BLOWN AWAY BY OFFER, LIKELY OUT: Bills, Dolphins, Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos.
THAT LEAVES TEAMS WITH A NEED, A WINNING WINDOW, MONEY AND THE NERVE TO SWING BIG WHO DON’T PLAY IN THE AFC NORTH AND PREFERABLY TO THE BROWNS DON’T PLAY IN THE AFC:
- COMMANDERS: 12-5, LOST NFC TITLE GAME: Have the need. In 2023 they traded both edges Chase Young and Montez Sweat. The Commanders ranked 13th overall in sacks with 43, but leading sacker Dante Fowler Jr. who had 10.5, is a free agent and the leader in sacks from the edge after him was defensive end Dorance Armstrong who had only four takedowns. Washington has the third most cap space in the NFL at just over $78 million. They also have an aggressive new owner who wants to make a splash and it looks like with Jayden Daniels around, they’re just starting to win. Washington has the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft and it would take more than that to get a talent like Garrett.
- LIONS 15-2, BEST RECORD IN NFL, LOST IN SECOND ROUND OF NFL PLAYOFFS: Who thought anyone would ever come to the Lions because they win? Winning box is checked, so is a screaming need. Aidan Hutchinson went down with a gruesome leg injury last season and so did the Lions real hopes of a title. Even when Hutch was healthy, Detroit didn’t have enough juice coming from the other side. The Motor City kitties only managed 37 sacks last season, 23rd in the NFL. Detroit has the 10th most cap space in the league at just over $46M, so they have the cash. They also have a desperate need to end a title draught. They’ve never been to a Super Bowl and last won a league title in 1957. They own the 28th pick in the first round for 2025.
- EAGLES: 14-3, NFC CHAMPIONS: The Eagles have on of the best defenses and young defensive corps in the league coached by Vic Fangio, of the best defensive minds. Philadelphia does play a base 3-4, and Garrett likes going forward more than he likes going back, so that could be an issue. However, the Eagles need more juice outside with only 41 sacks good for 15th in the NFL. They have the inside covered with Jalen Carter emerging and a combo with Garrett would have offense shaking at the line. Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman is always looking to be aggressive and get better. Philly is 21st in current cap space at just over $21M but it could work. Their recent success in the draft means they can pay some key vets for now until the bill comes due on Carter and other young defenders, Jalen Hurts is locked up long term and Saquon Barkley plays a non-premium position so he’ll never break the bank.
- 49ERS 6-11, OUT OF NFL PLAYOFFS: The 49ers have everything Myles Garrett would want short of the winning, but they have a winning tradition under Kyle Shanahan and they could likely convince Garrett last season was a one off. The 49ers have had a perpetual need opposite Nick Bosa since Dee Ford fell apart. Garrett could play base downs and move inside to tackle on passing downs to bring in Leonard Floyd to present a revved up turbo package. San Francisco was 24th in sacks last season with 37, so the numbers match your eyes, they need help on the edge. Yes, they have other needs in the interior of the defensive line, but life is allot easier inside when Bosa and Garrett are screaming off the edges, it means singles inside all day and night. Likely the best edge combo in the NFL if Garrett was in 49ers red and gold. They have the cap space at over $50M and the best pick among the contenders with the 11th overall pick in the draft, so compensation isn’t an issue, it would come down to whether Garrett thinks the 49ers can get back on track after a down year. Purdy and others need to be paid, but San Francisco carried over $50 million in space to 2025 and the organization might be the best in the league at massaging the cap. 49ers are always aggressive when big time talent is on the market. True contenders for Garrett’s services.
- COWBOYS 7-10, THIRD PLACE IN NFC EAST: Garrett was born in Arlington Texas, which is where Jerry Jones monstrous home palace is, you can’t get any closer to your home town team and Garrett grew up rooting for the Cowboys. Problem is, Dallas doesn’t have any cap space, literally. They are nearly three million over the number as of this moment, but everyone knows the cap is a moving organism. How bad does Jerry want to impress his friends with Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett? Everything works but the money and the winning, the two most important things. Home can only do so much. They’re on the list, but I see Dallas as a long shot.
- RAMS 10-7, LOST IN NFC WILD CARD ROUND: 21st in sacks in 2024 with 38. 15th in cap space in 2025 with just over $38M, 26th overall pick in 2025 NFL draft. The question Los Angles would have to ask itself is why would we want to give up any of our productive, young and cheap talent to go get Garrett? Jared Verse is likely the DROY for for 2024 and the Browns would certainly ask for the dynamic edge player. Braden Fiske, Byron Young on the outside with Kobie Turner and others in the rotation inside is the envy of the league based on production and price, doubtful Rams would mess with that even for Garrett, they’ll likely address other needs to get better.
- PACKERS 11-6, LOST IN NFC WILD CARD ROUND: Green Bay had the 8th most sacks in the NFL last season with 45, so not a pressing need, but Garrett on the other side of Rashan Gary, the 12th overall pick of the 2019 draft with 39 career sacks, would make life miserable for NFC North signal callers. The Packers don’t have a ton of cap space, middle of the road at about $42M. The big question is with Minnesota and Detroit combining for a 29-5 record in 2024, can Garrett get to his Super Bowl from here? Reggie White said God told him to go to Green Bay, Packers fans should starting praying. An unlikely spot. They own the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
TWO AFC TEAMS JUST IN CASE:
- CHIEFS 16-1, WON AFC: Everyone who wants to win, wants to play for the Chiefs. It’s a golden cheat code to have Patrick Mahomes and they’re going for the three-peat. They only have $11M in space, they’ll have the 31st or 32nd pick in the first round in 2025. Kansas City was 19th in sacks with 39. It doesn’t make sense if I’m the Browns to trade him here, but if Garrett is hell bent on winning Super Bowls, this is the place.
- BILLS 13-4, LOST AFC TITLE GAME: Like the 49ers, they can’t get over Mahomes Mountain and would love some help tracking St. Patrick down. They win, they have a need, they don’t have any cash. Buffalo is currently $12M over the cap. They have the 30th pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Could be the dark horse if Browns trade within the AFC.