It’s the end of a disappointing era for the Cleveland Browns. Myles Garrett, the league’s most talented, athletic, and versatile pass rusher is demanding a trade to a contender with the goal of winning a Super Bowl before his career winds down.
This should have been in Cleveland. The Browns should be a perennial contender in the AFC, at least a team routinely making the playoffs. Instead, the team’s all-in trade for Deshaun Watson sent the franchise to the cellar, wasting Nick Chubb’s best years, pressuring the front office to make numerous trades to prop up Watson which didn’t work, and now it’s going to cost them a generational defensive player.
Unfortunately, the die is cast. The Browns can try to damage control all they want, GM Andrew Berry can make bold claims about keeping Garrett — but we’ve seen this situation play out before. The longer Cleveland lingers, the more they try to make this situation work, it will only serve to drive down Garrett’s price on the market with teams knowing the Browns are getting desperate.
So, working under the assumption this trade will happen — what can the Browns expect? It’s nice to say “two first-round picks,” but that’s not happening. Garrett is an incredible player, but he’s still a 29-year-old pass rusher. He’s older than Tyreek Hill when he was traded from the Chiefs to Dolphins in a deal that included a 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th round pick. That’s more or less the absolute ceiling here, and will likely be less.
The best move would be for Cleveland to try and find a deal that nets them a first and second-round pick, or a deal that involves a 1st round pick and a player. So let’s see what could be on the table.
Detroit Lions
Lions receive: DE Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns receive: 1st round pick (2025), 3rd round pick (2025), QB Hendon Hooker
This is the kind of trade that would really make a lot of sense for everyone involved. The Lions’ pass rush really broke down following Aidan Hutchinson’s injury, and at this point the organization should be in the model of pushing the pedal to the floor and going all in. With ample cap space, and one of the best rosters in football there’s a very real chance putting Garrett on this team pushes them over the top.
Meanwhile, the Browns get some decent draft capital — but more intriguingly, Hooker. The 27-year-old QB was older when Detroit drafted him, and at one point, was the insurance policy in case Jared Goff couldn’t become “the guy.” Keep in mind how incredible the Lions have been at drafting before writing off Hooker. There could really be something here, and with this low-talent 2025 QB class it could make a lot of sense for Cleveland to throw Hooker in the mix as a short-term option to see if he can be the guy, rather than going all-in on a rookie QB.
With that No. 2 pick it now opens the Browns to take a replacement pass rusher like Abdul Carter, or even potentially Travis Hunter is the Titans feel froggy at take a quarterback at No. 1.
San Francisco 49ers
49ers receive: DE Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns receive: 1st round pick (2025), 2nd round pick (2025)
There’s no question the 49ers are an elite team who went through a very bad season. The injury-riddled 2024 campaign forced the team to play without Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for the majority of the year, killing the offense — and without that everything crumbled.
A trade for Garrett would send shockwaves through the NFL as San Francisco would get to pair him with Nick Bosa for one of the most terrifying pass rush duos the league has ever seen. Meanwhile, it allows Cleveland to take advantage of the Niners’ down season and get higher draft picks while still honoring Garrett’s desire to find a winning team.
Netting the No. 11 pick gives the Browns some leeway to explore the QB market in the draft, or potentially jump up if someone slides a little too low — while also getting to use their No. 2 pick on a true difference maker. It’s a “have your cake and eat it too” kind of deal that night be too good to pass up.
Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams receive: DE Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns receive: 1st round pick (2025), 4th round pick (2025), WR Cooper Kupp
Every prospective trade article requires a wild one, so let’s spitball this idea. Yes, it would require some work from the Browns for a cap perspective, but we all know the salary cap is a made up construct anyway that teams subvert all the time with creative accounting.
The Rams need more pass rush. Los Angeles was 22nd in the NFL in sacks, and there’s no question that Garrett could completely revamp the defense and give the Rams a centerpiece player they’ve been missing since Aaron Donald retired.
Meanwhile, this deal doesn’t help the Browns in terms of who’s throwing the ball, but it sure as hell upgrades their receiver group. Jerry Jeudy is the clear-cut No. 1, but after that the talent pool dries up significantly. Elijah Moore is mediocre, Amari Cooper is a free agent — Cleveland needs another receiver, and Kupp would be a great fit here.
A lot of these player trades are about giving the Browns freedom in the draft. This would ensure the team doesn’t need to invest a high pick in a receiver, at least not yet, allowing Cleveland to address other positions and come back to it later. Chasing receivers hasn’t exactly worked out of them, but in this deal Kupp essentially being a throw-in makes a ton of sense.
Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears receive: DE Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns receive: 1st round pick (2025), 2nd round pick (2025)
The biggest question here is whether or not Garrett can be convinced to drink the Bears’ Kool-Aid. It’s possible he could. While the defensive end made it clear he wants to be dealt to a contender, there’s a strong possibility that a new Ben Johnson-led era is able to sway Garrett into believing the Bears are poised for a Lions-esque breakout.
Montez Sweat and Myles Garrett could do some damage in the pass-heavy NFC North, and it would give Garrett a chance to be the focal point hero of the defense to a fanbase in dire need of hope. It makes for a compelling sales pitch.
Meanwhile, the Browns get a Top 10 pick they would crave, plus the Panthers’ 2nd round pick (owned by the Bears), pushing their 2nd round options even higher. The question is simply whether Garrett wants a team already established as great, or one that could be on the precipice.
