The Cleveland Browns have built a phenomenal defense over the past few seasons. According to PFSN’s Defense Impact metric, their defense ranked No. 1 in the entire league in 2023, No. 7 in 2024, and No. 6 in 2025. A huge part of that is the edge-rushing nightmare that is Myles Garrett.
The Browns gave Garrett a massive contract extension during the 2025 offseason after he announced he wanted out of Cleveland, hoping to win a Super Bowl. This has sparked whispers that the Browns might trade Garrett, but could they use him to solve their quarterback problem?
Could the Browns Trade Myles Garrett for Jalen Hurts?
The 30-year-old will be entering his 10th year in the league, all of which have been in Cleveland. During his time there, he has played in seven Pro Bowls and is a seven-time All-Pro. He has twice won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and set the single-season sack record (23) during the 2025 season.
After a frustrating 2024 season, Garrett publicly announced he wanted out. The Browns wasted no time in announcing that they had no plans to move on from their star defender.
Recently on ESPN Cleveland, the hosts asked whether they would accept a trade “straight up” with the Philadelphia Eagles for Jalen Hurts. One host noted that Philadelphia and Hurts need to decide his future in the City of Brotherly Love.
Hurts is reportedly reluctant to follow the coach’s instructions and is changing plays without permission. The show’s hosts, Aaron Goldhammer, Tony Rizzo, and Chris Oldach, are divided.
“I like me some Jalen Hurts a lot,” said Rizzo. “But if he’s not doing what the coaches are telling him to do, do you want him coming here?”
Goldhammer responded that if the Eagles called and offered a one-to-one swap of Hurts and Garrett, he would make the trade without hesitation.
Would you trade Myles Garrett straight up for Eagles QB Jalen Hurts? @HammerNation19 WOULD. @TheOGPAW and Rizz are on the fence…. https://t.co/iH7RL9IGWw pic.twitter.com/dhsLcVutOk
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) April 1, 2026
“I would try to rush to make sure that they don’t change their mind,” said Goldhammer.
Goldhammer said the real reason he would be so excited about the opportunity is that the NFL is a quarterback-driven league. The old “defense wins championships” days are not what they once were.
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While teams might not need someone who can put the team on his back and carry them down the road to a Lombardi Trophy, Hurts has proven results. He has led the Eagles to two Super Bowls since they drafted him in 2020, winning one.
There is little doubt that Garrett is one of the best players in the league at any position. Yet there is little doubt that the Browns have struggled to win because of their offense, particularly their quarterback issues. If they brought in Hurts, they wouldn’t have to worry about evaluating young talent for 2026, and Hurts could potentially mentor Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
