Cleveland Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett is demanding a trade. The eight-year veteran has made it clear he’s fed up with playing for a losing team.
Though he did not mention teammate Deshaun Watson by name — it’s likely that uncertainty at the quarterback position was a major factor in his desire for an exit.
In a statement released this morning through ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Garrett graciously thanked the people of Cleveland for shaping the man he’s become but said that he wants to compete for a Super Bowl.
“The goal,” Garrett stated, “was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.”
A Frustrating Tenure in Cleveland
A deep playoff run, let alone a shot at a Super Bowl ring, has been elusive for the Browns and Garrett.
The defensive end was drafted by the Browns in 2017 as the No. 1 overall pick. In his eight seasons with the team, Cleveland has only made the playoffs twice — in 2020 and 2023.
Meanwhile, Garrett has been a dominant defensive force, consistently earning All-Pro honors and rarely missing time due to injury. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2023 season.
The Deshaun Watson Saga
The Browns finished this season 3-14, due in large part to the absence of Watson, whose tenure with the team has been marred by controversy and injury.
Cleveland acquired Watson from the Houston Texans in 2022, signing him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. In his three seasons with the Browns, Watson has averaged just over six games played.
Watson’s first season with the Browns in 2022 began with an 11-game suspension stemming from sexual misconduct allegations from his time in Houston.
Then, in 2023, Watson suffered a fractured shoulder in Week 11, ending his season. He returned in 2024, only to suffer another season-ending injury, this time to his Achilles tendon. This new year began with more bad news as Watson underwent a second surgery after re-rupturing his Achilles — putting him out for the entire 2025 season.
Browns Trade Options Include Commanders
The Browns find themselves in a familiar situation: in turmoil. It isn’t clear whether they will honor Garrett’s request for a trade — but if they do, landing spots could include the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, or Washington Commanders.
The Commanders are perhaps the most interesting possibility given their mix of winning potential and available cap space.
Washington finished the season 12-5 and made an unlikely run through the NFC Championship game, led by quarterback Jayden Daniels. They also have the third-largest cap space available, behind the Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders, and the ability to absorb Garrett’s contract.
If the Browns can load up on draft picks, a trade with the Commanders could be a win-win.
Will the Browns Draft Shedeur Sanders at QB or Abdul Carter at DE?
Now, the Browns could also try to acquire a quarterback to pacify Garrett, either through free agency, a trade, or the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, in which the Browns hold the second overall pick. Cleveland has been linked to the draft’s top quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.
But there the Sanders camp may resist caught up in the Cleveland mess. There are indications that Sanders prefers to play for the New York Giants, and his father, Deion Sanders, may try to use his clout to prevent Cleveland from drafting him.
Now, if Cleveland finds an exit strategy from Garrett, they could opt to draft one of the two best overall athletes: defensive end Abdul Carter or two-way player Travis Hunter.
Full Statement by Myles Garrett
“As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl — and that goal fuels me today more than ever. My love for the community of Northeast Ohio and the incredible fanbase of the Cleveland Browns has made this one of the toughest decisions of my life. These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today.
While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.
With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”
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