Browns making promises to reporters amid Myles Garrett trade rumors?

The Cleveland Browns are seemingly desperate to have people believe that they won't be trading pass-rusher Myles Garrett this offseason after the two sides agreed to alter when option bonuses attached to his contract would be due.

On Thursday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter and Emmett Golden of 850 ESPN Cleveland shared that they had been told by Browns sources that the team is "adamant" that it isn't trading Garrett. That word seems to be quite popular within the team's facility heading into the final weekend of March. 

Browns love the word "adamant" regarding Myles Garrett? 

Per Nick Shook of the NFL's website, league insider Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported on Friday that the Browns are "adamant" that they are not trading Garrett. According to Garafolo, possibly trading Garrett has "nothing to do with the motivation for what [the Browns] did in [Garrett's] contract."

Garrett revealed in February 2025 that he wanted to be traded, but he later signed a four-year, $160M contract extension that included $123.5M guaranteed and a no-trade clause. That said, rumors surfaced this past fall suggesting that at least some teams thought he could have been available for a so-called "'Godfather' offer" ahead of the November trade deadline. 

"It was not on the table last year," Garafolo said about the Browns possibly trading Garrett. "It is not on the table again this year."

People not buying what Browns are trying to sell about future of Myles Garrett

Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand is among those not buying the club's comments about Garrett, as Grossi recently linked the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winner with five different NFC clubs. Garafolo also sounds a bit skeptical that Garrett will remain with the Browns through the offseason. 

"The Browns are saying they're not gonna trade him," Garafolo added about Garrett, "and they've promised us that we're not gonna look dumb if we say that. So we'll see."

The "we'll see" portion of that update may be doing some lockdown coverage in the event that teams are preparing to offer Cleveland valuable assets to land Garrett.