myles garrett: What You Need to Know (October 2026)
Myles Garrett Requests Trade From Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are facing their most significant offseason storyline in years. Myles Garrett, the franchise cornerstone and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has formally requested a trade, sending shockwaves through the league and triggering a massive spike in search interest around the three-time All-Pro defensive end.
The request came shortly after a turbulent 2024 season in which Cleveland finished 3-14, one of the worst records in the AFC. For a player of Garrett's caliber — a man who has posted double-digit sack seasons in five of the last six years — watching that kind of organizational collapse from the inside clearly reached a breaking point.
What the Numbers Say
To understand why this is such a seismic move, you have to look at what Garrett brings to a defense. In 2024, he recorded 14 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, and 57 total pressures despite facing constant double-teams and chip blocks. Pro Football Focus graded him as the top edge rusher in the league for the third consecutive season. He does this at 29 years old, entering what should be the prime years of a Hall of Fame career.
He is not a player on the downside asking out. He is arguably the best defensive player in football asking for a chance to win.
Why Cleveland Got Here
The Browns' situation is complicated, and Garrett has been patient through most of it. He stayed through the Deshaun Watson era, which has been a near-total disaster from a competitive standpoint. Watson's $230 million fully guaranteed contract remains an anchor on the roster, limiting Cleveland's ability to build around their defensive anchor. The team has cycled through coordinators, struggled to develop offensive talent, and watched their window close in real time.
Garrett publicly expressed his frustration several times during the 2024 season, noting after a November loss that he wanted to compete for championships, not just individual accolades. The trade request formalizes what had been building for months.
Who Could Land Garrett
This is where things get genuinely interesting for the rest of the league. Several contenders have both the need and the assets to make a run at Garrett. Early speculation has centered on a short list of realistic destinations:
- Pittsburgh Steelers — A divisional move would be rare but the Steelers have draft capital and a defense-first identity under new coordinator expectations.
- Dallas Cowboys — Jerry Jones has never been shy about going after marquee talent, and Dallas needs pass rush help badly after Micah Parsons dealt with injuries in 2024.
- Detroit Lions — A legitimate Super Bowl contender looking to add an elite edge piece to push them over the top.
- Houston Texans — Pairing Garrett with C.J. Stroud's offense would make Houston a genuine threat in the AFC South for years.
Any deal would likely cost a team at least two first-round picks plus additional pieces. Garrett has three years remaining on his contract at roughly $25 million per year — team-friendly money for a player at his level by current market standards.
What Comes Next
The Browns have said publicly they have no intention of trading Garrett. That is a standard negotiating position, and nobody should take it at face value. When a player of this profile formally requests a move, teams typically listen once the right offer arrives.
The NFL Draft in late April and the start of free agency will be the pressure points. If Cleveland does not show Garrett a credible path toward contention — whether through trades, free agent additions, or a restructured plan at quarterback — the likelihood of him suiting up in brown and orange in 2025 drops considerably.
At 29, with a legacy already secured in Cleveland's record books, Garrett wants a ring. That desire is driving one of the biggest stories of the entire offseason.