The longer term of Myles Garrett stays uncertain at this point, along with his public trade request still standing. It will come as no surprise across the league if a deal sending him away from the Browns were to happen, but Cleveland’s intention stays keeping him within the fold.
Two years remain on Garrett’s pact, and he’s owed roughly $45MM across that span. With none outstanding guaranteed salary on the deal, any acquiring team would want to work out an extension moving him near (or to) the highest of the sting rush financial pecking order while providing latest locked in money. The 2023 Defensive Player of the 12 months just isn’t using his trade request as a way of securing a brand new contract, nonetheless.
Regardless of that, the Browns’ willingness to work out a raise with Garrett appears to be undeterred. As The Athletic’s Zac Jackson notes, the team looks to be prepared to make a “monstrous” extension offer which might keep the 29-year-old in Cleveland. (subscription required). Any latest commitment on Garrett’s part would after all put to rest the probabilities of a trade for at the very least the near future and make it likely he would finish his decorated profession with the Browns.
Team and player usually are not in alignment with respect to contending within the immediate future, and uncertainty on the quarterback spot represents an appropriate reason on Garrett’s part to prefer a change of scenery. With that said, Cleveland will have the opportunity to afford a cheap bridge starter in free agency once the most recent Deshaun Watson restructure takes place, and the No. 2 selection in April’s draft could give the team the chance so as to add a rookie to the combination. Especially if the Browns make a notable addition under center, they may try and rebuke trade offers and retain Garrett for 2025 and beyond.
On that time, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com writes the team could thoroughly be prepared to attend this example out through the beginning of next season (subscription required). She adds that would even be the case if Garrett were to sit down out games in 2025, something which can be aimed toward accelerating the trade process. Offers including at the very least one first-round pick and more will be expected this offseason from interested suitors, although general manager Andrew Berry has previously stated a pair of Day 1 selections wouldn’t be sufficient to make a trade something he can be prepared to entrain.
That sentiment would little doubt especially hold true after the draft, so late April represents an unofficial deadline for any movement on the Garrett front. If a renewed effort were to be made by the Browns to work out an extension, a brand new wrinkle to this example would come into play.