Why Browns made Myles Garrett decision ahead of trade deadline

Multiple Wednesday reports revealed that there is "zero chance" the Cleveland Browns will part ways with pass-rusher Myles Garrett before the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline. 

Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer later offered more information regarding the club's handling of its top overall player this fall. 

Browns weren't ready to lose Myles Garrett despite their record

"The 2-6 Browns want to keep arguably the best defensive player in the NFL, one who’s tied for the NFL lead with 10 sacks and is on pace to earn his first career sack title," Cabot wrote about Garrett. "...If they were going to trade him, they would’ve done so before they signed him to a blockbuster four-year extension worth $160M a year in March, including $122M guaranteed, which briefly made him the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL at $40M a year. They also granted him a no-trade clause and paid him a $21.54M signing bonus."

Multiple national reporters hinted earlier in the week that the Browns could make Garrett available ahead of the trade deadline if a club was willing to make a "'Godfather' offer" for the one-time Defensive Player of the Year Award winner who turns 30 years old in December. Logic suggests Cleveland isn't one offseason away from becoming a legitimate playoff contender. Additionally, there's no indication that the Browns have a future franchise quarterback on their roster. 

Browns didn't want to punt on 2026 by trading Myles Garrett

Rookie signal-caller Dillon Gabriel has mostly disappointed with his play this fall. That said, fellow first-year pro Shedeur Sanders hasn't yet faced a live defense in a regular-season game. Additionally, the Browns picked up an extra 2026 first-round draft choice this past spring. 

"...They hope to find their franchise quarterback by next season, possibly with one of their two first-round picks, and want to keep their core players intact to contend as soon as possible," Cabot added. "But they do have a disgruntled star defender on their hands, and must show him and other players some changes over this bye week to calm the waters."

The Browns should have Garrett in the lineup when they play at the New York Jets (1-7) on Nov. 9. Gabriel is on track to start for Cleveland at MetLife Stadium, but one would think that he could be one poor performance away from losing the starting job to Sanders.