Myles Garrett, the Cleveland Browns’ defensive end, is widely considered the NFL’s top pass rusher. The Browns organization has undergone significant change during his tenure. Despite his league status, Garrett’s impact is strongly felt in the Cleveland community. Recently, a local media member offered a pronounced opinion about his future.
Citing Timing, Media Member Proposes Browns to Trade Myles Garrett
After the Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski, the team entered a new era with Todd Monken, previously the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, now taking the reins. With this coaching change, local radio host Tony Rizzo argues that it may be the right moment to trade the seven-time Pro Bowler.
“Let’s assume the Browns, playoffs, at best, maybe this year,” Rizzo said. “Nine wins? I don’t know. First year coach, never done it before. Wouldn’t this be the time to now trade Myles Garrett to get what you want?”
Last year, Garrett set the NFL single-season sack record and achieved his eighth consecutive double-digit sack season, recording 125.5 sacks in 134 games. Building on Rizzo’s argument, his trade value may be at its peak coming off this record-breaking season. However, two obstacles could hinder a trade. First, acquiring Garrett would likely require a team to forfeit most of its top draft capital for the next few years.
“Wouldn’t this be the time to now trade Myles Garrett?,” – Rizz 🧐
Is it time that the Browns seriously consider trading Myles Garrett? pic.twitter.com/qevbIaFCxT
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) April 14, 2026
For context, this winter the Kansas City Chiefs traded cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for a 2026 first-, fifth-, and sixth-round pick, as well as a 2027 third-round selection. Using this recent trade as a benchmark, the Browns could potentially command at least double in any Garrett deal, given his on-field value.
Another significant challenge is Garrett’s contract, which pays him an average annual salary of $40 million under his four-year, $160 million extension signed last year. As a result, any team making a trade would need the financial flexibility to absorb such a cap hit.
Despite these trade discussions, Rizzo also acknowledges Garrett’s impact and the enjoyment of watching the five-time All-Pro play. Nevertheless, he maintains that the Browns, as a franchise, may be heading in a different direction.
“We’re in a different direction,” Rizzo said. “You won eight games with Myles Garrett in two years. How valuable is he? You can’t part with somebody like that? You’re going to wait around until you’re good, three years from now, when Myles Garrett is 38?”
Garrett is already 30 years old. According to Rizzo’s premise, he would be about 35. Defenders can play successfully into their 30s. In 1998, Reggie White won the DPOY at 37 years of age.
Looking at recent team performance, Garrett has accumulated 37 sacks over the last two seasons. During the same span, Cleveland’s offense struggled massively. According to PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, the Browns had the worst offense in the league in each of the last two seasons.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
With these offensive issues, ranging from Deshaun Watson’s injuries to questions surrounding Stefanski’s replacements, the team has been unable to move the ball consistently. In this context, Rizzo believes a trade could better position the franchise for a rebuild.
According to PFSN’s NFL EDGE Impact Metric, since 2019, Garrett has never ranked lower than No. 9, demonstrating elite, consistent performance. While speculation swirls around trading Garrett, it remains to be seen whether the Browns want to and whether they can receive what they believe is fair market value for him.
