Last week, as discussions about the Detroit Lions pursuing Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett gained traction, former NFL wide receiver and Woodward Sports analyst Braylon Edwards proposed which players should not be off-limits in any trade for Garrett.
“In my opinion, only three players are untouchable in a trade: Penei (Sewell), Amon-Ra (St. Brown), and Gibbs,” Edwards said. “Everyone else, including ninety-seven, is fair game. You’re talking about Myles Garrett in his prime, not just Aidan Hutchinson who may still develop into a great player. Personally, I would choose Myles Garrett over Aidan Hutchinson.”
According to Edwards, the idea of pairing Garrett with Hutchinson was not as appealing. After all, the goal of acquiring Garrett, a future Hall of Famer and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, would be to strengthen the defense, right?
While many hypothetical trade proposals for Garrett have not involved sending a player to the Browns, but instead multiple draft picks, Edwards’ out-of-the-box thinking about trade ideas for Garrett stands out.
On Wednesday morning, Brett Whitefield from Fantasy Points shared a potential “starting point” for a Lions-Browns trade for Garrett.
Whitefield’s proposal revolves around Tracy Walker, whose contract is set to expire soon, and who is likely due for an extension. In the tweet’s comments, he mentioned that the Lions could replace Walker with Texas safety Andrew Mukuba in the draft, showing he had considered how the Lions might replace him if they traded him for Garrett.
Whitefield reinforced his idea by questioning whether his suggestion could be enough to initiate trade talks between the two teams.
The Browns may be interested in acquiring a player in exchange for Garrett, but due to their cap issues, largely from Deshaun Watson’s costly contract, they are more likely to seek younger players on rookie contracts. Thus, a player like Walker, with an expiring contract and a potential for a high salary, might not be ideal.
The Browns’ situation implies that trading Walker is unlikely, given his importance to the Lions. He could become one of the league’s highest-paid safeties, and that’s not a move the Lions are likely to make. It’s also improbable that the Browns would target him in trade talks, considering his contract status.
Whitefield tempered the boldness of his suggestion by labeling it as a “starting point” for negotiations. However, it seems unlikely that either team would seriously consider Walker as a potential trade centerpiece for Garrett.