Do teams think Browns' Myles Garrett could become available before trade deadline?

Both before and after the Cleveland Browns sent wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills last week, multiple reporters addressed whether or not Cleveland could make reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett available to other teams before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. 

Cleveland then suffered a 21-14 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday that dropped the Browns to 1-6 on the season and featured starting quarterback Deshaun Watson going down with a campaign-ending torn Achilles tendon.

For a piece updated early Monday morning, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated implied that other clubs believe the Browns are willing to at least discuss Garrett's short-term future. Specifically, Breer wrote that "some fishing has taken place" regarding a potential trade for Garrett. 

Breer also touched upon the harsh reality of Cleveland's situation with the club unable to escape the massive salary-cap hits attached to Watson's contract anytime soon. 

"My guess here would be that the Browns wind up with a top-five pick, keep Watson for 2025 and let Watson and the draft pick compete," Breer wrote about what's to come for the organization over the next 10 months or so. 

There was no sign before Watson's latest injury that he could win a legitimate competition for the starting job coming off the shoulder surgery he needed last fall. According to ESPN stats, he began Monday ranked last in the NFL among qualified players with a 23.4 adjusted QBR and tied for 25th with just five touchdown passes on the season. Every indication is that Watson is no longer an elite quarterback and that the Browns are in for a franchise reset that will include a multi-year rebuild. 

As for Garrett, the 28-year-old is still in his prime and is under contract through the 2026 season. He's now likely worth more to the Browns as a tradable asset than an on-the-field contributor, and he sounded quite fed up with some members of the Cleveland fan base when he said on Sunday afternoon that people who cheered when Watson ruptured his Achilles against Cincinnati should "be ashamed."

Garrett possesses Hall of Fame talent but thus far has played in only three career playoff games, two of which Cleveland lost. The Browns may not actively try to trade the All-Pro pass-rusher before the first Tuesday night of November arrives, but Breer's revelation suggests would-be contenders will give the Cleveland front office something to think about over the next couple of weeks as it pertains to Garrett's status.