5 potential landing spots for Myles Garrett
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett made a surprise trade request Monday as the 2017 No. 1 pick looks to join a Super Bowl contender after several losing seasons in Cleveland. The 29-year-old has two years left on his contract and will presumably become the NFL's highest-paid defender when he signs a new deal regardless of where he lands.
General manager Andrew Berry has said the Browns won't move Garrett, but if Cleveland changes its mind, here are the best destinations for the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year:
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have been aggressive when pursuing pass-rushers under Sean McVay and Les Snead. They acquired Dante Fowler midway through the 2018 season from the Jacksonville Jaguars, reaching the Super Bowl before falling short against the New England Patriots. Los Angeles then landed Von Miller in a 2021 midseason trade, adding a key starter to a Rams team that went on to win the Super Bowl. McVay's outfit also tried to get Brian Burns for a package featuring two first-round picks in 2022.
Yes, the Rams already roster solid edge rushers. Jared Verse was this season's best rookie defender, and Byron Young has combined for 15.5 sacks in his first two NFL campaigns. But it's Garrett we're talking about here. He's earned six All-Pro selections (four first-team berths) in eight seasons and would be a great veteran presence for L.A.'s promising group of pass-rushers.
Los Angeles also knows it doesn't have many years left of Matthew Stafford ahead of the quarterback's 17th NFL season. Now would be the perfect time for a Garrett trade as Stafford has proved he can lead a contender with the right supporting cast. The Rams haven't been afraid of trading first-round picks for players in recent years and should make a strong push for Garrett.
Washington Commanders
Washington is expected to continue to build around Jayden Daniels after his historic rookie season resulted in an NFC title game appearance. Is there a better way of doing that than adding an elite edge rusher with seven straight double-digit sack seasons to an improved defense that lacks star power?
Granted, the Commanders' 2025 first-round pick is only at No. 29, so the club would presumably have to add more top selections in a trade. But Washington has signaled it'll be more aggressive after trading for cornerback Marshon Lattimore in 2024. Plus, Fowler - the team's sack leader last year - is a free agent and turns 31 in the summer. Washington is projected to have the third-most salary cap space in the league in 2025 and could give Garrett an extension worth $35 million per year.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are another team with more than enough salary cap space that isn't far from becoming a legit contender. We expect Los Angeles to return even stronger in Year 2 under head coach Jim Harbaugh after the team made the wild-card round.
The Chargers' defense did rank in the top five in EPA/play, but Garrett would put the unit on another level. Let's also not forget that L.A.'s top edge rushers, Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, might not return in 2025. Mack will become a free agent in March, and it'd make sense for the team to cut the oft-injured Bosa, who has a cap hit of $36 million with no guarantees in 2025.
Detroit Lions
It felt like this was the Lions' year to win a Super Bowl, but the team's season ended with a heartbreaking divisional-round loss. Why not go all-in and make a trade for Garrett to make sure Detroit remains a contender even without coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn? Detroit only has the 28th overall pick in the 2025 draft, but the franchise shouldn't think twice before offering more premier draft capital to Cleveland.
Edge rusher became a concern for the Lions during the 2024 season after injuries sidelined Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport. In-season acquisition Za'Darius Smith is under contract, but he'd be more effective as a rotational pass-rusher behind a potential duo featuring Hutchinson and Garrett. Hutchinson's return from a fractured tibia and fibula, combined with a potential move for Garrett, could be the missing pieces for Detroit to finally win a Super Bowl.
Green Bay Packers
GM Brian Gutekunst wasn't a fan of what he saw from his pass rush in 2024. Green Bay's defensive front didn't win enough one-on-one matchups, an issue for a team that blitzes at a low rate. Garrett would obviously solve that problem. The question is whether the Packers would be willing to give up top draft capital to add an edge rusher in his age-30 season to one of the league's youngest (and most promising) rosters. Garrett's timeline may not fit into the team's despite its good salary-cap situation.
A Garrett trade would instantly elevate Green Bay's defense and likely help develop a young edge rusher like Lukas Van Ness, who's yet to meet expectations after being drafted 13th overall in 2023. There's currently a clear gap between the Packers and NFC contenders like the Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. Garrett would help shorten the gap for a Green Bay team that made the playoffs in both years with Jordan Love under center.