CLEVELAND, Ohio — Trade speculation around Browns star edge rusher Myles Garrett is intensifying on June 1, a date that matters because Cleveland restructured his contract in March to make a potential deal easier after the 4 p.m. deadline. The move deferred Garrett’s original option bonuses until seven days before the start of the regular season, which could create more flexibility for the Browns if they choose to listen to offers.
General manager Andrew Berry has publicly insisted Garrett is a “career Brown” and has downplayed the rumors, but the article suggests the team could still consider a major offer if one emerges. Garrett has a no-trade clause, giving him leverage in any discussion, yet the lack of visible contact with new head coach Todd Monken during the offseason has added to the uncertainty. Monken acknowledged only limited communication, mostly text messages, and has tried to minimize concern.
Garrett did not attend the Browns’ voluntary offseason work or minicamp, though that alone is not unusual. Still, his absence, combined with the contract timing, has fueled talk that a trade is at least possible. The Browns Foundation Golf Tournament at Firestone Country Club is expected to bring more questions for Monken and the team.
Garrett, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the league’s single-season sack record-holder with 23, has long said winning a Super Bowl is his top priority. He asked for a trade before signing a four-year, $160 million extension in March 2025, saying he wanted a chance to win elsewhere. While Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has said Cleveland believes it can contend for a championship during Garrett’s contract window, the team’s overall timeline may not match the 30-year-old pass rusher’s championship urgency.
If a contender were willing to offer multiple first-round picks, Cleveland might be tempted to move him, especially if it helps accelerate a future reset at quarterback. The article notes that the Browns may eventually need to find their quarterback of the future in 2027, a draft class viewed as especially strong and deep.
Several teams, including the Rams, Eagles and Cowboys, have been mentioned as possible suitors, though nothing has been confirmed. Garrett could also seek a larger payday, since his $40 million annual average has slipped him to No. 6 among the league’s highest-paid defensive ends. A trade would weaken Cleveland’s defense, which ranked fourth in yards allowed last season, and would force the Browns to find another elite edge rusher. Still, the possibility of extra draft capital and a future franchise quarterback could make a blockbuster deal worth considering.
