The Cleveland Browns may have the league’s most dominant pass rusher in Myles Garrett but he could also be their clearest path to a full-scale reset.
Garrett is coming off a record-setting season. The former top overall pick notched 23 sacks, setting the NFL single-season record. Garrett earned his second Defensive Player of the Year honor and has shown no signs of slowing down.
Garrett is a future Hall of Famer, but the Browns have holes all over their roster, particularly on the offensive line. Former NFLer Willie Colon sees trading Garrett as a viable path to turn things around.
“I seriously would consider trading Myles Garrett. You have to look at the deficiencies. They have to say, we’ve been here enough. Myles Garrett has hinted about leaving,” Colon said on First Things First. “I think you go to him and say, ‘let’s figure this out.’ You’re only going to build this team up fast by getting assets and getting people in that building who can help you win. You have a quarterback who is young and an offensive line that needs help. Shedeur Sanders or whoever will be your answer for next season will need some protection. And they don’t have it right now.”
Browns three-time Pro Bowl guard Wyatt Teller announced he’ll be moving on from Cleveland in free agency. Joel Bitonio is also a free agent and is weighing retirement. Tackle Jack Conklin and center Ethan Pocic are also pending free agents.
Schwartz’s Departure Could Impact Myles Garrett’s Future With Browns
Garrett was vocal last season about his admiration for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, backing him as a head-coaching candidate. When Schwartz didn’t land the job in Cleveland following the firing of Kevin Stefanski, he resigned, prompting the Browns to turn to Mike Rutenberg to lead the defense.
Colon pointed to that change as another reason the Browns may want to consider trading Garrett now.
“I also throw that out because Jim Schwartz is gone. Myles Garrett and Schwartz loved each other,” Colon said. “I’m looking at Todd Monken to say, ‘I’m looking to build this thing up. You being the leader of this locker room, you can’t be a distraction. That’s going to cause a mutiny and I can’t afford that right now. Especially with a young quarterback.’”
Browns Star Myles Garrett Not Interested in Rebuild
Garrett has racked up personal accolades since entering the league in 2017. But team success has been lacking, which prompted his trade demand last offseason. He ultimately agreed to a $160 million extension that runs through the 2030 season.
But even with the extension, Garrett made it clear he won’t be content sitting through a rebuild in Cleveland.
“I’m committed to winning, and long as the team organization are doing so and they’re committed to that same thing, then I’m all on board,” Garrett said at the end of last season. “But if we’re thinking anything other than winning — tanking or rebuilding, that’s not me.”
The Browns have repeatedly pushed back on the idea of trading Garrett. General manager Andrew Berry has made the team’s stance clear, famously saying the plan for Garrett is “Cleveland to Canton,” a nod to the organization’s hope that he’ll spend his entire career in a Browns uniform.
