Are Browns planning for Myles Garrett trade after Maxx Crosby debacle?

Late this past winter, whispers surfaced suggesting that the Cleveland Browns could at least listen to offers from other teams for star pass-rusher Myles Garrett. 

That was before ESPN's Field Yates shared on Wednesday that the Browns and Garrett had "agreed to modified language on his contract" that pushed option bonuses for 2026, 2027 and 2028 back from March 25 of this year to seven days before the start of the regular season. 

On Wednesday evening, Jack Duffin of 247Sports explained why the Browns may have made that move.  

Is Myles Garrett trade more likely than before?

"[Garrett] was due a $29.2M option bonus on the 25th March," Duffin wrote. "If the Cleveland Browns would have paid this, it would have effectively ended any chance of [Garrett] being moved this season because the Browns would have paid out $29.2M of the $32.5M he is due in 2026. No team is going to pay the majority of a quality player's contract and then move them at the same time." 

Garrett went public with a trade request in February 2025 and made it known at that time that he wanted to play for an advertised Super Bowl contender. While he later signed a four-year, $160M contract extension that included $123.5M guaranteed to stay with the Browns, that deal was reportedly tradable as it pertained to the salary cap before Wednesday's developments. 

"When looking at contracts," Duffin added, "it sends a clear message that the Cleveland Browns are open and considering moving Myles Garrett, because there is no need to move this option bonus otherwise."

What Myles Garrett could be worth for Browns

In late August 2025, the Dallas Cowboys received two first-round draft picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark from the Green Bay Packers for pass-rusher Micah Parsons. Earlier in March, the Baltimore Ravens were willing to give up two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders, but that trade fell apart. 

Unlike Parsons and Crosby, Garrett became a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winner after he set a new official single-season record of 23 sacks this past campaign. The 30-year-old is still in his prime, so the Browns' asking price for his services realistically could equal what the Cowboys got in return for Parsons. 

Interestingly, those same Cowboys need a pass-rusher and reportedly could explore trading for Crosby later this year. Perhaps Dallas will instead attempt to land Garrett before training-camp practices get underway later this summer.