Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
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(Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers are clearly operating with urgency. With several key players getting older and the front office bringing in veteran names like Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, and Dre Greenlaw, this roster is built to compete right now, not down the road.
That raises the question: could the 49ers take it a step further and make a bold trade? A move like that would send a message across the league that San Francisco is all-in on making a Super Bowl push during the 2026 season.
In the speculation mill, the 49ers have emerged as a potential landing spot for Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett. NBC Sports NFL insider Mike Florio shared his thoughts on the speculation, saying the Browns have left the door open to a potential trade.
“Mixed signals continue to emerge from Cleveland about the future of defensive end Myles Garrett,”Florio said in an April 9 video. “The team says he’s not getting traded and that they’re never trading him, but they redid his contract in a way that would make it easier to trade him. Then Myles Garrett doesn’t show up for the offseason program, and he’s reportedly not going to be there at all.
“It just feels like there’s an opening, an opportunity for someone to make the Browns an offer they can’t refuse. Think of it this way: No one has reported that the Browns are getting calls and hanging up regarding the possibility of a Myles Garrett trade.
“This is the time of year when calls are made throughout the league about anyone who could be, maybe, possibly be available. So I’m not saying it will happen, but I’m not saying it won’t happen either. Time will tell how long Myles Garrett remains with the Cleveland Browns.”
49ers Get Myles Garrett Trade Idea
In an April 7 article,CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell wrote that rather than draft and develop a pass rusher ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, the 49ers need to go for a home run move in trading forGarrett.
“San Francisco might be able to thread the needle and both acquire Garrett in a package led by their 27th overall pick in 2026 and draft a few other players this year,” Podell wrote.
“The 49ers need to go for it with running back Christian McCaffrey turning 30 on June 7, wide receiver Mike Evans turning 33 on Aug. 21 and left tackle Trent Williams turning 38 on July 19. Garrett would solidify their defense in a way that would allow them to compete with Seattle and theLos Angeles Rams for NFC supremacy.”
Niners Need to Make Move for Myles Garrett
Furthermore, Podell explained why the 49ers are the team that most needs to trade for Garrett.
“With both 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year edge rusher Nick Bosa and 2025 first-round pick defensive lineman Mykel Williams suffering season-ending injuries, the 49ers recorded the fewest sacks in 2025 (20) and averaged the fewest sacks per game (1.18) by a playoff team in NFL history,” Podell wrote.
“Head coach Kyle Shanahan and then-defensive coordinator Robert Saleh were able to patchwork their way through to a 12-5 regular season record and an NFC divisional round appearance. However, the eventual Super Bowl championSeattle Seahawks showed how big of a gap there truly was between the divisional round and the Super Bowl by walloping them 41-6.”