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For eight years after they made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Myles Garrett has repaid the Cleveland Browns by being one of the most dominant defensive players in the entire NFL. The Browns, however, have not repaid Garrett by building a team around him that is capable of actually succeeding on the field.
So now Garrett wants out. The six-time Pro Bowler and 2023 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year requested a trade last month, stating that “”While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.”
Cleveland Browns Ownership Shoots Down Meeting With Star DE Myles Garrett
There might, however, have been room for mediation between the two sides and Cleveland could have potentially held on to one of the best players its had this century. That is, until owner Jimmy Haslam opted to disrespect Garrett by refusing to even meet with him.
Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN reports that Garrett reached out to Haslam in hopes of sitting down and discussing the situation, only to have his request rejected.
“The development comes with both sides dug in on their stances — Garrett wishing to be traded to a contender and the Browns adamant that they will not acquiesce in the request,” Oyefusi reports. “Garrett first requested a trade in early February, saying the Browns’ future is not aligned with winning right now. A source also said that Garrett is not open to a contract extension with the team.”
Garrett has two years remaining on his five-year, $125 million deal. However, the Las Vegas Raiders recently signed star defensive end Maxx Crosby to a three-year deal worth $35.5 million per season. So any team hoping to acquire Garrett will likely need to pay up to keep him around.