Insider shares why Browns could trade Myles Garrett amid Deshaun Watson mess

Even before the Cleveland Browns essentially punted on the rest of their season by trading wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills, analysts suggested that 1-5 Cleveland should make reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett available to other teams. 

While Browns insider Zac Jackson of The Athletic insisted on Wednesday that "Garrett almost certainly isn’t getting traded — and the Browns probably aren’t near the stage of even discussing that doomsday scenario at this point," Jackson did mention that the 28-year-old could possibly engineer his exit from the club. 

"The one scenario the Browns must avoid is becoming such a wreck that Garrett demands a trade," Jackson wrote. "Garrett is under contract through 2026, and the Browns would take on more than $36M in 2025 dead money if they traded him. Is there a chance some team has the cap space, the draft capital and the desire to make Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history? Probably yes, but all of those things would have to fall into place."

It's not a stretch to say all of those things could soon "fall into place." Garrett is undeniably a game-changing pass-rusher who is still in his prime and could turn a good defense into a championship-caliber unit. Every team, let alone one that has an obvious need at the position (i.e., the Detroit Lions), would be better with Garrett on the roster. 

As for the Browns, they seemingly are stuck with the remainder of the fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract that quarterback Deshaun Watson signed in March 2022. Watson has been arguably the league's worst QB1 this season, and ESPN's Dan Graziano noted on Wednesday that the Browns would eat the highest dead-money hits in NFL history through 2026 if they cut the 29-year-old this coming offseason. 

Watson's contract was always eventually going to make it difficult for the Browns to hold onto stars and build around him. It now looks like his deal will keep the franchise from competing for a championship before 2027 at the absolute earliest. 

"If the Browns do enter a full-blown rebuild at any point over the next 12-plus months," Jackson said, "teams will call about Garrett." The Cooper trade indicates such a rebuild is coming, and ESPN's Jordan Reid predicted on Wednesday that the Browns will select Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the first pick of next year's draft. 

On paper, a breakup would benefit both Garrett and the Browns. Such a blockbuster move likely won't occur before the Nov. 5 trade deadline, but the Cleveland front office needs to be realistic about its situation and begin planning for a needed franchise reset that involves shopping Garrett this winter.