The Cleveland Browns are trying to reset following Kevin Stefanski’s firing after six seasons with the team, and the future of defensive end Myles Garrett’s standing with the franchise remains in question. After what seemed like a shakedown last year, the dominant pass rusher bagged a record four-year, $160 million contract.
However, it looks like there’s a twist in the tale.
Will Myles Garrett’s Contract Leave the Browns with an Escape Hatch?
Garrett spent the last nine years becoming one of, if not the best, Browns players in franchise history. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, five-time All-Pro, and seven-time Pro Bowler, the pass rusher is on course to secure his spot in the Hall of Fame one day.
With which team he’ll finish, however, remains a riddle, as recent discussions suggest the veteran might be out of Cleveland sooner than most people think. Insider Daryl Ruiter believes Garrett’s latest contract could provide the front office with an opportunity to cheaply get out of his $160 million deal.
“Now that they’ve done what they’ve done with the contract, I won’t be stunned,” Ruiter said on 92.3 The Fan. “Do I think they’re going to trade him this year? No. Do I think they’re setting it up to where they could trade him next year? Oh yeah. I think that’s definitely a possibility. But if they pulled the trigger on a trade later this summer, I wouldn’t be stunned because of how they reworked this contract.”
“Do I think they’re going to trade him this year? No. Do I think they’re setting it up to where they could trade him next year? Oh yeah.”
📞@RuiterWrongFAN says a Myles Garrett trade could be much more possible next year👀 pic.twitter.com/jTiJNpkxu9
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) March 27, 2026
At 30, Garrett only has a few more good years left in him, given the typical shelf life of a defensive lineman. As such, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Browns try to offload him while they can still get plenty of value in return (95.6 PFSN EDGE Impact).
“It doesn’t look like there are significant salary cap savings,” Ruiter added. “I’m not buying what the Browns are selling in regards to the ‘We’re not trading him.’ Typically, the more vocal you are about not trading a player, that usually leads to a trade — that’s just my experience over the years.
“Now that they’ve altered this bonus structure the way they have — moving the payments back close to the season rather than doing it a week or two after the new league year, that smells to me like they’re at least giving themselves the option.”
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The longer Cleveland waits to cash in on the veteran, the less likely it becomes that the team will secure high draft picks for him.
How general manager Andrew Berry handles the Garrett situation over the next year will be interesting to monitor.
