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Myles Garrett says trade request to Browns is about wanting ‘to get to contending’
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Myles Garrett says he’s looking to move to a contending team and play in games that matter late in the season.
On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns defensive lineman made an appearance on ESPN’s NFL Countdown to talk about his recent trade request. Garrett has spent 8 years now in the NFL and has played in only 3 playoff games. He’s a 4-time All-Pro selection, a 6-time Pro Bowler, and was voted the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
But the former Texas A&M star has endured 6 losing seasons with the Browns since being taken with the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, and on the heels of a 3-14 campaign in 2024, the Browns are no closer to contending for a Super Bowl than they were when they drafted him. At FanDuel, Cleveland currently has the sixth-longest odds (+14000) to win the Super Bowl next season.
Garrett told the Countdown crew that after speaking with his family and with the Browns’ front office, he concluded that the 2 sides were just no longer aligned.
“Speaking with management at the Browns, I just feel like at this current time I don’t feel like our future is aligned with winning right now and that’s what I’m forward to doing at this stage of my career,” Garrett said. “I have a lot of love for Northeast Ohio and a community that brought me into the league, but I want to get to contending and winning playoff games and having a chance to be in games like today.”
Asked what he would do contractually to help facilitate a trade to a contending team, Garrett said he’s “willing to do whatever it takes.”
Garrett has 2 years left on a 5-year, $125 million deal. His cap hit in 2025 will be well over $19 million, and his cap hit in 2026 will be more than $20 million. A team trading for Garrett would also likely be looking to extend him. Despite turning 30 next December, Garrett will likely command another hefty sum.
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Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
