Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett attends the snowboard women's halfpipe final to cheer on girlfriend Chloe Kim.
Getty
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett attends the snowboard women's halfpipe final to cheer on girlfriend Chloe Kim.
The Detroit Lions were never at the forefront of the trade talks for Maxx Crosby, though they lingered in the background as potential players stretching back to reports of interest in a deal that began during the NFL combine.
Insiders like ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated have said the timeline on any Crosby trade talk is unlikely to heat up again until draft time, the preseason or maybe even the mid-season deadline.
However, recent developments involving the Cleveland Browns, edge-rusher Myles Garrett and some strange adjustments to his contract language on Wednesday, March 25 spell good news for any contender interested in taking a Super Bowl swing on a trade for the two-time and defending Defensive Player of the Year.
Given how close the Lions have come to a title over the last three seasons, as well as their continued need off the edge of the defense, Detroit should perhaps be counted among those potential suitors.
Browns Salary Cap Insider Says Contract Changes Mean Myles Garrett Wants Out of Cleveland
Cleveland Browns
GettyCleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Salary cap expert Jack Duffin of the Orange and Brown Report, reposted a social media link originally authored by Over the Cap and shared via X on Wednesday.
The links hooks into an explanation of a decision by Cleveland and Garrett to alter his contract in a way that defers payment for several months each offseason and opens up trade windows. Duffin asserted in his caption that making such a move can signal only one thing.
“Garrett wants out, seems like they are going to give it to him later in the offseason,” Duffin wrote. “No real reason to do it otherwise.”
Jack Duffin
@Jason_OTC Garrett wants out, seems like they are going to give it to him later in the offseason
No real reason to do it otherwise
Field Yates of ESPN originally reported the language changes to Garrett’s deal, while OTC explained them in detail.
“The Browns and star [edge]-rusher Myles Garrett have agreed to a modified contract where the two sides have agreed to push back the option dates in his contract from late March to early September,” OTC wrote. “This is a pretty bizarre move on Garrett’s end as it defers the payment of salary each year to Garrett and really just opens up a trade window each year, except Garrett has a no-trade provision. It is hard to really tell what the logic is here from either side.”
Lions Will Have to Offer Haul to Land Myles Garrett, Including at Least 2 First-Round Picks
Trade rumors continue to swirl around Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett.
GettyCleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
But Duffin disagreed with OTC’s assessment when he said the intentions behind the changes Wednesday clearly indicate a desire on Garrett’s part to exit Cleveland, and a likely willingness from the Browns to grant him an exit.
Garrett asked out last offseason before the franchise placated him with a four-year, $160 million extension. But the team went 5-12 in the interim and has no real solution at quarterback beyond something of a wing and a prayer with regards to second-year signal-caller Shedeur Sanders.
Garrett, who turns 31 in late December, broke the NFL’s single-season record with 23 sacks last season and led all players with 33 tackles for loss. He could immediately put the Lions back into the upper echelon of Super Bowl contention, as the team is already rated No. 6 in Pro Football Focus’s post-free agency preseason power rankings.
The cost for Detroit in a trade will likely be in the neighborhood of three first-round picks. However, if Garrett is on the block, the Lions probably have a good chance of getting in the conversation with an offer of pick Nos. 17 and 50 in Rounds 1 and 2, respectively, of this year’s draft along with a first-rounder in 2027.