A top defender in football has asked for a trade, and the Detroit Lions may be strong contenders in the pursuit of his talents.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has officially expressed his desire to be traded from the team that selected him first overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. A significant reason for his wish to be traded is that the Browns are not presently in contention for a Super Bowl, which is a key objective of his career.
“As a child with dreams of the NFL, my sole focus was on the ultimate aim of winning a Super Bowl — and that ambition drives me now more than ever,” stated Garrett in a release on Monday. “My affection for the Northeast Ohio community and the amazing Cleveland Browns fanbase has turned this into one of the hardest choices I’ve ever faced.” The last eight years have transformed me into the person I am now.
“Although I have cherished making this city my home, my ambition to succeed and compete at the highest levels prevents me from being complacent,” the statement went on. “The aim was never to travel from Cleveland to Canton; it has always been to contend for and secure a Super Bowl victory.” Considering that, I have asked for a trade from the Cleveland Browns.
At first glance, the Lions appear to be precisely the kind of place Garrett would prefer to end up. Considering his ambition to succeed and the Lions having the right components but not achieving their ultimate aim, a combination of one of the top teams in the league with one of its finest players is entirely logical.
Nonetheless, the primary hurdle will be the expense of securing one of the league’s top talents at a valuable position. Lions general manager Brad Holmes mentioned that acquiring defensive end Za’Darius Smith, previously with the Browns, was one of his toughest challenges due to many top edge rushers being deemed untouchable.
When questioned at the Senior Bowl, Browns general manager Andrew Berry informed reporters he wouldn’t exchange Garrett for two first-round selections. Considering Garrett’s historical value as a player, any kind of trade would necessitate the Lions giving up several draft picks, comprising at least a few first-round selections.
Cleveland probably won’t be eager to trade the star, and based on his earlier contract restructures, it might result in the Browns facing more than $36 million in cap charges if a trade occurs, as reported by OverTheCap.
Securing Garrett would certainly provide the Lions with one of the top rosters in the league by 2025. Nonetheless, it would involve sacrificing several first-round selections along with other draft options.
At first glance, the Lions appear to be precisely the kind of setting Garrett would desire to end up in. Considering his ambition to succeed and the Lions having the necessary components but not yet achieving their final aim, aligning one of the league’s top teams with one of its finest players is entirely logical.
Nonetheless, the primary challenge will be the expense of obtaining one of the league’s top talents in a valuable position. Lions general manager Brad Holmes stated that acquiring defensive end Za’Darius Smith from the Browns was one of the toughest challenges he faced due to the number of elite edge rushers deemed untouchable.
When questioned at the Senior Bowl, Browns GM Andrew Berry informed reporters he wouldn’t exchange Garrett for two first-round selections. Considering Garrett’s historical value as a player, any deal would necessitate the Lions relinquishing several draft picks, including multiple first-round selections.
Cleveland probably won’t want to trade the star, and considering his past contract restructures, this could result in over $36 million in salary cap penalties for the Browns if a trade occurs, according to OverTheCap.
If the Lions were to acquire Garrett, they would undoubtedly possess one of the top rosters in the league by 2025. Nonetheless, it would require sacrificing several first-round selections along with other draft options.
Moreover, his contract that extends until 2026 would complicate the Lions’ ability to keep some of their best players. Detroit currently has only $22 million in cap space for the 2026 season, while Garrett incurs a cap hit exceeding $20 million for that season.
A prime example is the trade Chicago executed for 27-year-old Khalil Mack, who was regarded as one of the top players in the league then. In that trade, the Bears gave the Raiders two first-round selections, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick in exchange for Mack, a second-round pick, and a conditional fifth.
This provides an insight into the possible package needed for a team such as Detroit to obtain Garrett.
It presents Holmes with a choice — fully commit and strike a deal to obtain a top-tier talent in return for significant draft assets? Or proceed and adhere to the team’s draft and nurture foundations?