Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett has been a thorn in the side of the Pittsburgh Steelers for nearly a decade now. But there's a chance the generational pass rusher could never darken another doorway for this team again... and for real this time.
Last offseason, before inking a record-setting deal that made Myles Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback in the history of the league, Garrett requested a trade from the Browns. In the process, trade rumors ran rampant. Eventually, Garrett was appeased by receiving a four-year, $160 million deal that added $40 million in new annual earnings.
But this offseason is different. This time Garrett really could be traded.
On Thursday, ESPN reported that the Cleveland Browns made a rare contract modification to modify the language of Garrett's deal. Instead of having his $29 million roster bonus kick in on March 25th, the Browns and Garrett quietly agreed to language that would hold off on his roster bonus until a week before the start of the 2026 season.
And the only reason Garrett would be okay with not earning that massive lump sum of money immediately is if he could be traded to a contending team this offseason.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans will rejoice if the Cleveland Browns trade Myles Garrett out of the AFC North
Executing a trade of this magnitude won't be easy. Garrett is widely considered the best defensive player of this generation. He's a guaranteed Hall of Famer who broke T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan's sack record last season (23.0) while collecting 33 tackles for a loss.
Though he's 30 years old, the Browns aren't about to come down on the asking price. Because Cleveland will be paying his salary and guaranteed money, Garrett could land with a new team via trade and an exceptionally affordable deal.
But because this deal would be so good for the receiving team, it's going to cost loads of draft capital to acquire him.
Last offseason, the Dallas Cowboys traded superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons for two first-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. This blockbuster trade took the NFL world by storm. But the Browns could pull in an even steeper haul for Garrett.
On the latest episode of Stacking The Box, Senior FanSided contributor Marcus Mosher suggests that the Browns could be seeking upwards of three first-round picks in a potential trade for Garrett. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year is coming off the best season of his career and has shown no signs of slowing down.
This would take the right trade partner. Teams looking to capitalize on Super Bowl windows—like the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Los Angeles Rams—could get into a potential bidding war for Garrett's services. And who wouldn't be interested in a player like this?
While it wouldn't be ideal for Steelers fans if the Browns rake in a trio of first-round picks in a Garrett trade, all fans of AFC North rivals would be thrilled to have the superstar edge rusher out of the division.
The Myles Garrett trade buzz is only getting started. Stay tuned.