Insider makes bombshell Jim Schwartz claim about Browns trading Myles Garrett to Rams

Local and national media personalities have said throughout the week that the Cleveland Browns would have still traded defensive superstar Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams even if Cleveland had hired then-defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz over former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken to be their head coach this past winter. 

During a Wednesday appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, Browns reporter Zac Jackson of The Athletic suggested that it isn't necessarily the case. 

Did Jim Schwartz's decision make it easier for Myles Garrett to leave the Browns for the Rams?

"He would be," Jackson said when asked if Garrett would still be with the Browns today had Cleveland hired Schwartz instead of Monken. "Now look, if [the trade] didn't get done for whatever reason -- that [the Browns] wanted more or the Rams balked or something else happened -- [the Browns trading Garrett] would still be in play through Sept. 7. What this deferred payment did is they would've had to pay him $10M on Sept. 7. Well, guess what? Look at what they've spent the last five years. So, what's $10M more? It's like $10."

Jackson was referencing how Garrett and the Browns agreed earlier in the offseason to change when option bonuses attached to his contract would be due. Unlike what happened in February 2025, Garrett neither publicly nor privately requested a trade this offseason. Nevertheless, he did have to waive his no-trade clause to join the Rams this week. 

As for Schwartz, he wanted to become Cleveland's next head coach this past January. The Browns had him under contract and wanted him to stay on as Monken's defensive coordinator, but Schwartz ultimately resigned from his role. This week, he said that remaining with the Browns would have been "a forced marriage" that wouldn't "work in the NFL."

Could Jim Schwartz have convinced Myles Garrett to stay with the Browns?

"Jim Schwartz would be the coach," Jackson continued during the segment. "[Garrett] would be here, and [the Browns] would...be saying our defense is going to be good enough to carry us."

For what it's worth, Jackson later acknowledged there's no guarantee Garrett would have stayed with the Browns through Week 1 of the 2026 season if Schwartz was Cleveland's head coach this spring. Nevertheless, Browns fans may be left wondering what could have been if Monken looks overwhelmed in the job and loses more than he wins from September through January 2027.