While some insist that the Cleveland Browns could retain All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett by making him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player, others believe Cleveland’s trading Garrett before the start of the 2025 season is the inevitable end of the ongoing saga.
For a piece published Tuesday night, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand suggested both the AFC North club and Garrett could welcome a deal involving the New England Patriots.
Specifically, Grossi believes Cleveland could get the No. 4 overall pick of this year’s draft and New England’s 2026 first-round selection in return for Garrett.
Such a move could give the Browns and Garrett what they want. In a mock draft published on Tuesday, ESPN’s Field Yates predicted that the Tennessee Titans will select Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter as the draft’s first choice and that the New York Giants will spend the third pick on a quarterback. In this scenario, Cleveland could grab Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado signal-caller Shedeur Sanders at No. 2 and then get a needed playmaker, like Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter, with the fourth pick.
Garrett is only under contract through the 2026 season and will be looking for an extension before he steps onto the field in September. According to Mark Daniels of MassLive, the Patriots are on track to have the most cap space in the NFL by nearly $30M and, thus, can afford to pay Garrett.
Additionally, Grossi thinks Garrett would be excited about sharing a locker room with a potential franchise quarterback in Drake Maye and playing for new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. During his stint with the Browns last year, Vrabel became a favorite among Cleveland players.
“Vrabel spent the 2024 season embedded in the Browns’ culture as a consultant,” Grossi wrote. “He knows the impact Garrett has on opposing offenses. Garrett and Vrabel could lift the Patriots’ defense to a playoff level immediately.”
Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote last week that this year’s postseason teams lack the first-round draft picks Cleveland will want in exchange for Garrett’s services. The message from within the Browns seems to be that Garrett must be realistic about his potential landing spots if he’s serious about leaving Northeast Ohio.
It remains to be seen if New England would give up multiple first-round draft selections to acquire the one-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The Patriots certainly need the help, and Garrett turns 30 years old this coming December. Some may feel he’s worth more than just a pair of top-tier draft assets.
