The Cleveland Browns had a confusing season all around last year. The quarterback controversy that loomed over them took away from some of the other bright spots on the roster, like an excellent rookie class and a legendary season from Myles Garrett that ended with him setting the all-time single-season sacks record.
But, even after the season has come to an end, it doesn’t feel like they are any closer to figuring out the most important position in the sport. With a new head coach, the hope has to be that they can get things back on track. However, according to a former general manager turned media pundit, the best available path for the franchise involves trading its best player.
Fast-Tracking the Browns’ Rebuild With a Myles Garrett Trade
At this point, there aren’t a ton of weaknesses left in Cleveland. Outside of a porous offensive line, their biggest hurdle is the quarterback position. With Deshaun Watson hanging like an albatross around their neck, none of their choices from the 2025 season panned out either.
Names like Dillon Gabriel and the uber-popular Shedeur Sanders were given extended runs, but both failed to impress enough to automatically earn the spot for next season. As a result, they enter the 2026 NFL Draft with some major question marks.
However, according to Mike Tannenbaum, former New York Jets general manager turned ESPN analyst, the easy answer for the Browns is to part ways with Garrett. “Two first-round picks and Jameson Williams to the Detroit Lions, who says no?”
Expanding on the sheer value the trade would bring for Cleveland, he added, “If you’re the Browns, you have such a big rebuild. Two first-round picks and you get a young, explosive player. 17 touchdowns in his career, 17 yards per catch. You need so many weapons, you have so many holes to fill. If I’m the Browns, I do that to start the massive rebuild.”
The last general manager to take the Jets to playoff success, the organization made three postseason appearances during Tannenbaum’s seven-year run as the general manager of the franchise beginning in 2006, when he succeeded Terry Bradway.
A two-time Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most ferocious defenders in the history of the league, the asking price for Garrett is understandably massive. But the potential upside to adding a game-wrecking talent off the edge is hard to pass by. Garrett ranked first in PFSN’s NFL EDGE Impact Rankings in 2025 with a score of 95.6.
While the Browns would certainly be better with him on the field, the long-term future of the franchise might be helped by the haul they get in exchange for their best player, especially with the number of problems the current roster already has.
