Super Bowl Week in New Orleans is off to a banger of a start.
Star pass rusher Myles Garrett has requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns.
Garrett, who was drafted by the Browns with the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, wants a change of scenery. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport has the scoop:
Breaking: Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and #Browns star Myles Garrett has requested a trade.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 3, 2025
Exclusive statement: pic.twitter.com/LgS5YCeCnP
This is jaw-dropping news. Trading for Myles Garrett could be a game-changing acquisition for one bold NFL franchise. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
NFL star Myles Garrett is on the trade block
Myles Garrett is coming off another amazing season in which he terrorized quarterbacks and opposing ball carriers in Cleveland. Garrett collected 14 sacks, forced three fumbles (recovered one), racked up 28 quarterback hits, and led the league with a whopping 22 tackles for loss. He earned a Pro Bowl trip for the fifth consecutive season and was given first-team All-Pro honors for the fourth time in five years. The 29-year-old defensive end is a game-wrecking star. And I am intrigued to see (1) if he gets traded and (2) which teams will come calling.
For what it’s worth, Myles Garrett trade rumors aren’t a new thing. Back in October, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Jacob Robinson put forth a tag-team effort in creating a trade to the Chicago Bears. We discussed it and explored the cost and the potential upside of a deal. Obviously, it never came to fruition. But now that a trade request is officially on the table, I am once again intrigued by the possibility. Garrett’s résumé is awesome. And adding an impact defensive lineman this offseason is something that should be high on the Bears’ priority list.
Of course, Bears General Manager Ryan Poles won’t be alone in dialing up the Browns this offseason. But armed with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a second second-round pick, the Bears are one of the few teams that have the kind of draft capital that could be moved for a star defensive end like Myles Garrett. I don’t know if they’ll pull it off. Heck, I’m not sure that they’d be willing to do so. However, anything feels possible after this franchise emerged victorious in the Ben Johnson sweepstakes.
I do not expect this to be the last we hear of trade rumors regarding Myles Garrett. So stay tuned.