NFL insider suggests Browns won't trade Myles Garrett to certain teams

Shortly after All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett revealed via a statement made public by multiple media outlets on Monday morning that he requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns, NFL Media's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport (h/t Eric Edholm) reported that Browns general manager Andrew Berry "has not changed" his stance regarding holding onto Garrett through at least the start of the 2025 campaign.

During an afternoon appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN shared that he doesn't "think there’s any way or chance in hell that the Browns ever would consider trading" Garrett to the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens or Cincinnati Bengals. 

"They say they aren’t trading him at all," Schefter added about the Browns' short-term plans for Garrett, per Nick Kosko of On3. "They’re certainly not trading him in the division. I would think that if they’re trading them, they certainly wouldn’t want to trade him in-conference." 

While Garrett is under contract through the 2026 season, Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer suggested on Monday that the reigning Defensive Player of the Year will want to put pen to paper on an extension that will include a significant pay raise either with the Browns or a different team before he plays another meaningful snap. Schefter indicated that reality, Garrett's desire to pursue a championship ring and the price a team would have to pay to acquire the 29-year-old could allow him to choose a landing spot from among a handful of interested NFC teams. 

"Myles Garrett would have the ability, because any team would have to give up a haul, and any team that trades for him, obviously they'd want to have him under contract," Schefter explained. "So he would have some say there...let’s say he doesn’t like the area, he doesn’t believe in the team, he doesn’t like whatever it is. He could say, 'I’m not going there.'" 

The Washington Commanders recently completed a trip to the NFC Championship Game and won't have to worry about signing rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to a lucrative extension anytime soon. The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a 14-3 season and could save some cash by letting starting signal-caller Sam Darnold reach free agency so that they can play 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy later this year. Schefter mentioned that a Chicago Bears team that will have quarterback Caleb Williams on an inexpensive rookie contract for at least a couple more years could try to convince Garrett it will be ready to compete for more than just a playoff berth this coming fall. 

If nothing else, Schefter may have intentionally or unintentionally confirmed the Browns will need to receive a so-called "'Godfather' offer" from an AFC team to even consider trading Garrett to a conference opponent.