Browns' David Njoku makes passionate plea to Myles Garrett after trade request

As Chris Franklin of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com pointed out, All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett essentially spent his Wednesday on Radio Row at the Super Bowl flirting with contenders such as the Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles days after he made it known he wants to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.

During a Thursday visit with the Bleacher Report Radio Row crew, Browns tight end David Njoku campaigned for his current teammate to have a change of heart. 

"Come on dawg," Njoku said about Garrett, as shared by Spencer German of Sports Illustrated. "Stay home, bro. He knows who I'm talking to. Stay home. Come on, give it another shot. We ain't that far off, honestly speaking." 

Garrett previously agreed that the Browns were closer to contending "than some may think we are," and Cleveland cornerback Denzel Ward later said the club simply needs "to solidify that quarterback position" in order to return to the playoffs. However, Garrett has since revealed that he no longer believes he and the Browns are "aligned on where the team is going in the near future" as it pertains to pursuing a Super Bowl title. 

Regardless of Garrett's wishes, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer has insisted on numerous occasions since Wednesday that the Browns aren't in any rush to trade the 29-year-old to one of his desired landing spots. 

"The problem is, a contending team such as the Lions or Commanders wouldn’t have high first-round picks to offer," Cabot wrote. "And with less than 50 percent of first-round picks making it to their second contract with their original team, what might the Browns get with even two first-round picks that would be better than their future Hall of Famer? What’s more, the Browns are digging in their heels and refuse to trade him."

Garrett is under contract through the 2026 season and presumably could give the Browns at least one more campaign if he agrees to a pay raise that makes him the league's highest-paid defensive player. On Thursday, Njoku suggested the current Browns are closer to the version of the team that played in a January 2024 playoff game than the one that finished this season at 3-14.

"I don't think we're done yet," Njoku added during his comments. "I know [Garrett] wants to win. He wants to be great, he wants to be a champion and so do I. ...We didn't come this far just to come this far. He knows exactly what I'm talking about."