The Cleveland Browns could face a tough decision if they don’t trade their star player, Myles Garrett, who has requested a trade. Although his financial demands make things challenging for many teams, Garrett is the kind of player that teams will make moves for, offering both picks and players. One team that might be a good fit for him is the Detroit Lions. Pairing Garrett with Aidan Hutchinson would give the Lions a formidable defensive duo that could rival any in the NFL.
Hutchinson has even expressed his desire to play alongside Garrett, putting additional pressure on the Lions’ front office to secure a deal with the Browns during the offseason. “We [Garrett and I] were just talking about what could be,” Hutchinson said, according to Robert Zeglinski of For The Win. “And, although it’s probably unlikely, I would be thrilled to play next to him if it were to happen. Our whole D-Line would be just totally elevated.
That would be a scary defensive line. And we get along, too. I’ve seen him these last few years at different things. He texted me after I got hurt, which, I don’t know, it was just a cool thing. Like guys outside of your own team who reach out to you. So I think he’s a good dude. If he does, great, but I don’t know. We’ll see. But that would be awesome.”
If the Browns do decide to trade Garrett, it would require a significant return in picks, as Cleveland is focused on rebuilding. Draft picks would be crucial in that process. Jeff Risdon from Lions Wire proposed a deal in which Garrett would go to the Lions for a package of six picks.
Lions would receive: Garrett, a 2025 fifth-round pick, and a 2026 second-round pick. Browns would receive: a 2025 first-round pick, a 2025 third-round pick, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick, and Brodric Martin.
“Garrett instantly moves to the top of this list, as he refuses to report to Detroit without a new contract that pays him significantly more guaranteed money. The Lions and Garrett agree to a 4-year deal worth $144.5 million ($36.13 million per year) with $94 million guaranteed at signing (65 percent). This deal is worked out with Garrett’s agent before the trade; the hypothetical deal here does not happen without this new contract,” Risdon explained.
While getting four players and Martin might be a reasonable return, it’s worth noting that the Lions’ picks aren’t as valuable as the Browns would likely prefer. Cleveland would want top-tier picks. However, acquiring these might be tough unless a struggling team believes Garrett could be the missing piece.
That wouldn’t make much sense, though, since he hasn’t been able to elevate the Browns. If the Lions want Garrett, they may need to offer more, and the Browns might be unwilling to part with the 2026 second-round pick, which could be highly valuable if the Lions falter again next season.