The Detroit Lions are considered one of the top options in the league for an elite defender now available for trade.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, a four-time All-Pro, is among the top players at his position in the league and officially sought a trade on Monday in hopes of achieving a Super Bowl victory in his career.
Trading will not be simple for Garrett. Lions general manager Brad Holmes mentioned in his end-of-season press conference that acquiring an edge rusher, like he did for Za’Darius Smith at the deadline, was challenging due to the limited number of players that were realistically accessible.
Consequently, any agreement for Garrett would incur a significant expense. The Lions would need to give up considerable draft assets or key players to secure the services of one of the league’s top pass rushers.
Here are three trade offers the Lions might put forward to acquire the All-Pro defender.
Proposal One
Lions receive: Myles Garrett, a third-round pick in 2025 (from Buffalo).
Browns receive: first-round selection in 2025, third-round selection in 2025, first-round selection in 2026, fourth-round selection in 2026.
If the Lions intend to execute this deal without losing a player, it will necessitate relinquishing several first-round selections. The Lions have achieved significant success in the draft with Holmes, which means these selections are extremely valuable for the organization.
Nevertheless, with the Lions aiming for the Super Bowl, they wish for these picks to be positioned towards the end of the first round. That might soften the blow of losing multiple picks, as will having one of the league’s top edge rushers on the team.
Surrendering several first-round picks is a significant cost, yet the Lions would gain a Day 2 selection along with one of the top defenders in the sport.
Proposal Two
Lions receive: Myles Garrett.
Browns receive: Hendon Hooker, a first-round selection in 2025, a third-round selection in 2026.
Given the considerable uncertainty at quarterback, the Browns might benefit from considering another alternative. The Browns possess the second overall pick, yet with no definitive front-runner in this year’s quarterback class and the potential of next year’s, taking a risk on a player like Hooker would be sensible.
I think a second-round pick must be included as well since Hooker has yet to prove himself. Hooker has two years left on his rookie contract, and the Browns might not be convinced of his worth.
Consequently, this wouldn’t be a deal the Lions could easily execute as a straightforward player swap. Including the first-round selection would attract the Browns and enable them to acquire another top-tier talent.
For Detroit, trading Hooker is an essential trade-off to acquire a talent like Garrett. Despite his intriguing potential, the Lions currently have their franchise quarterback situated and may choose to bring in a veteran backup temporarily, or explore selecting another quarterback in this year’s Draft.
Proposal Three
Lions acquire: Myles Garrett, a third-round pick in 2025.
Browns acquire: Brian Branch, second-round pick in 2025.
This would be the hardest thing to accept for the Lions and their supporters. Branch has risen to become one of the league’s top young safeties, and he still has two additional years of team control. Nonetheless, as the Lions confront multiple challenging contract choices, they won’t have the means to compensate everyone.
In this situation, the Lions would opt to compensate Kerby Joseph instead. For Cleveland, Branch would represent a significant enhancement since he is able to play both safety roles or slot cornerback. As a highly adaptable young defender, Branch would significantly aid the defense.
Ultimately, if the Lions aim to make the trade without giving up their premium draft picks, this is the scale of a deal that it would need. Losing Branch would be painful, but acquiring top-tier talent at a key position would still be highly advantageous.