Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers need to stay on par with the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, as both teams reached the NFC title game. Moreover, it would be the Seahawks who would go on to win Super Bowl LX, eliminating the Niners in the divisional round.
As a result, San Francisco needs to keep improving their squad, and one area that needs bolstering is the pass rush. While the 49ers can address this weakness in the draft, they could also go the trade route, and there’s speculation regarding the Cleveland Browns‘ Myles Garrett.
On March 25,ESPN reported, citing league sources, that the Browns and Garrett agreed to modified contract language that became official on March 24. Moreover, it’s because of these changes that there’s trade speculation now regarding Garrett.
Amid the speculation, David Lombardi, who covers the 49ers for the SF Standard, noted that whatever asking price of first-round picks and other assets the Browns would want from any team like the Niners would be warranted given the status of Garrett.
“I think with Myles Garrett, this is as close to a perfect defender as you can find in his prime,”Lombardi said on March 27 on his YouTube channel. “Because of that, if he does actually hit the trade market, as he demanded to hit last year, he can and should go for one of the greatest costs we’ve ever seen. I think there’s a good chance he’ll be worth whatever that cost ends up being.”
Myle Garrett Contract Restructuring Details
Garrett’s contract originally required his option bonuses for 2026, 2027, and 2028 to be exercised by the 15th day of the league year, which is March 25, 2026, for this year.
Under the updated agreement, that deadline hasbeen moved to seven days before the start of each regular season, and the structure of the option bonus payments hasbeen adjusted to Garrett’s advantage.
Additionally, $8 million of Garrett’s base salary for 2029 and 2030 hasbeen shifted into roster bonuses, paid early in each league year.The changes also benefit Cleveland, giving the team more flexibility to manage salary cap space, while Garrett gains from the revised timing and structure of his option payments.
Could the 49ers Entice the Browns Into Making a Trade?
Moreover, Lombardi believes that given where the Browns are with their roster, Cleveland could finally decide to stock up on picks and rebuild, especially since many believe the 2027 class will be a loaded QB class.
“If you’re the Cleveland Browns, you could logically step back and say, ‘Hey, the 2027 draft looks loaded, especially at quarterback. Maybe, with Myles Garrett at 30, it makes sense to stockpile major draft capital, particularly first-round picks, because his value might never be higher than it is right now,'” Lombardi added.
“He’s coming off a sack record and still has prime years ahead of him. He’s built like a Greek god. At this point, Cleveland could get a king’s ransom for him and use that to fully reset a roster that has been cash-strapped after giving Deshaun Watson one of the worst contracts in NFL history.“
As a result, perhaps the right offer could cause them to consider trading away the best defensive player in the NFL. If the Browns are willing to listen, the 49ers need to be all over it as Garrett could be that piece that puts the Niners as a Super Bowl favorite for the 2026 season.