Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski made it quite clear at the NFL Scouting Combine that they’re not trading wantaway pass-rusher Myles Garrett anytime soon.
It appears Garrett isn’t backing down regarding his trade request in the closing days of February.
Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on Thursday afternoon that a league source revealed that “Garrett is ‘not open to’ a contract extension with the Browns” this offseason.
“Normally,” Cabot explained, “Berry meets with agents here at the NFL combine about such matters, but Garrett and his camp have slammed the door shut on negotiations. Garrett has requested a trade from the Browns so he can go elsewhere to win a Super Bowl, and he’s adamantly stated it’s not about the money.”
As recently as Thursday morning, Browns reporter Zac Jackson of The Athletic insisted that Cleveland is serious about not wanting to trade Garrett despite the player’s desire to join a contender. Garrett is signed through the 2026 season via a contract that does not include a no-trade clause, meaning the All-Pro only has so much leverage at this time.
According to Cabot, the Browns are willing to make Garrett the league’s highest-paid defensive player “at about $40M a year.” It now seems the parties aren’t close to putting pen to paper on any sort of agreement.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said at the NFL combine he “probably” won’t complete a blockbuster trade for a superstar pass-rusher this offseason, in part because Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson could receive a contract extension. Meanwhile, Washington Commanders reporter John Keim of ESPN isn’t sure that club has the necessary assets “to entice the Browns in a trade.”
“Some league sources have speculated it would take at least two first-round picks (and that also would depend on where those selections would be in the first round),” Keim said about a team possibly landing Garrett.
Cabot added that the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles “have been rumored to be one of the teams interested in trading for Garrett.” Keim indicated that the Commanders and Eagles could struggle to put together a good enough package to get the Browns to trade Garrett because those clubs will likely again be picking “around the same spot” in the first round of next year’s draft.
Neither Garrett nor the Browns are budging, and there’s no sign this matter will be resolved before the new league year opens on March 12.