Former GM gives Browns, Lions some interesting Myles Garrett advice

Last offseason, Detroit Lions pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson campaigned for his club to trade for Cleveland Browns defensive star Myles Garrett.

Garrett requested a trade in February 2025, but he later signed a four-year, $160M contract extension that included $123.5M guaranteed and a no-trade clause to stay with Cleveland. During Monday's edition of the ESPN "Unsportsmanlike" program, former NFL general manager and current analyst Mike Tannenbaum suggested that the Lions should give the Browns a call about Garrett's availability. 

Are Lions a Myles Garrett away from winning the Super Bowl? 

"If I’m Detroit, I feel like I’m one pass-rusher away from meaningfully competing for the Super Bowl," Tannenbaum explained, per Chris Franklin of NJ.com. "I have great young offensive talent. I would hate to lose any of those guys, but if I had to give up one of them to get the best pass-rusher in the game, I would, to pair him with Aidan Hutchinson."

Specifically, Tannenbaum thinks the Lions could acquire Garrett in return for two first-round draft picks and wide receiver Jameson Williams. Such a haul would help Cleveland with its ongoing roster rebuild, while the Lions are coming off a 9-8 season and are expected to be part of Super Bowl conversations through at least the 2026 campaign. 

That said, there's no indication the Lions are in a rush to land Garrett this winter. After all, Detroit signed the previously mentioned Hutchinson to a four-year contract extension worth $180M with $141M in guarantees in October. On paper, salary-cap space that would be taken up by Garrett's deal could instead be spent to help the Lions bolster other portions of their roster. 

Nevertheless, Tannenbaum thinks the Lions should follow in the footsteps of some San Francisco 49ers teams from a previous era. 

Myles Garrett, Aidan Hutchinson would be a stellar one-two punch up front

"The whole idea of the way Bill Walsh created that dynasty in San Francisco was a great passing game, great fourth-quarter pass-rushers and the ability to run the ball when they had to," Tannenbaum added during the segment. "Well, we know [the Lions] can score. We know they can run the ball, and they have a pass-rusher. Go get another difference maker."

Garrett may ultimately want to join a contender now that player-favorite Jim Schwartz is no longer Cleveland's defensive coordinator. However, the Lions acquiring the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year this offseason would be quite a shocking development.