Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett sacks Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph during NFL game
Getty
Myles Garrett sacks Mason Rudolph, showcasing the dominant pass-rushing ability that could cost major assets in a blockbuster trade.
The New England Patriots continue to surface in trade speculation involving Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett, and one proposal now puts a very real — and very steep — price on what it might take to get a deal done.
In that scenario, the Patriots would need to part with at least their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to land Garrett, a move that would immediately reshape the identity of their defense but also sacrifice major future assets to obtain a single player, albeit an elite superstar who is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and holder of the NFL single-season sack record (23).
The hefty price tag reflects where the edge rusher market is right now — and one that may not even be out of line when viewed alongside what other teams have been willing to offer for elite pass rushers.
Garrett Trade Price Lines Up With Maxx Crosby
If the Patriots are serious about entering the Garrett sweepstakes, they are stepping into a market that has already been pushed upward by recent negotiations around top-tier pass rushers.
The Baltimore Ravens put together a significant package for Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby before that trade ultimately fell apart, according to reporting from ESPN that detailed Baltimore’s pursuit of Crosby and the framework of a deal that never materialized.
Context matters when projecting Garrett’s value. He remains perhaps the most disruptive defensive player in football and at age 30 still has multiple prime years left, if he can avoid serious injury. He also carries three years remaining on a four-year, $160 million contract with the Browns, according to data from Spotrac.
Cleveland this week took steps to adjust Garrett’s contract, a move that could be interpreted as either creating salary cap flexibility or reinforcing the Browns’ leverage depending on how trade talks develop, according to reporting from Pro Football Rumors.
Put all of that together, and a package built around multiple first-round picks starts to look less like an overpay and more like the current cost of doing business for an elite pass rusher.
Patriots’ Pass Rush Issues Make Garrett a Logical — but Costly — Target
The reason New England keeps coming up in these scenarios is straightforward: the Patriots need help getting to the quarterback.
During the 2025 season, that weakness showed up consistently. The Patriots struggled to generate pressure and finished near the bottom tier of the league in several key defensive categories tied to pass rush effectiveness according to defensive data tracked by Pro-Football-Reference across the 2025 NFL season.
That lack of disruption put additional strain on the secondary and limited the overall ceiling of the defense, even in games where other areas held up.
Garrett would change that immediately, as a player offenses have to account for on every snap, with a presence that alters protection schemes and creates opportunities for the rest of the front.
That is why analyst Jared Mueller of SB Nation connected the Patriots to Garrett despite the cost in a report published Thursday, identifying New England as one of the more logical landing spots for Garrett.
“Not only did the Patriots make it to the Super Bowl last year, but HC Mike Vrabel spent a year in Cleveland with Garrett,” noted Mueller. “Young QB Drake Maye was a top MVP candidate last year, and New England is full of young talent who could all take a big step forward with Garrett causing so much havoc.”
Second Proposal Would Send Garrett to Patriots
Another trade analyst, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report also proposed a Garrett-to-New England deal.
“With nearly $44 million in cap space, the Patriots also have the financial resources to absorb Garrett’s contract,” the B/R analyst wrote. “Garrett would make an already stout New England defense that much more formidable. New England knows firsthand what Garrett is capable of. He had five sacks against the Pats in their last meeting.”
The recent evaluations of Garrett’s market value suggest that teams willing to make that kind of move are not acting irrationally. They are responding to a league where elite pass rushers increasingly command premium returns, according to analysis from Bleacher Report projecting Garrett’s trade market value.
That leaves the Patriots facing a familiar calculation: whether the immediate impact of a player like Garrett outweighs the long-term flexibility tied to holding onto future first-round picks.
If they decide the answer is yes, the cost — however steep — may simply reflect the reality of acquiring one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive players.