Just a year ago, All-Pro EDGE  Myles Garrett requested a trade away from the Cleveland Browns and the team never entertained it. Both sides ended up agreeing to a three-year extension worth $120 million. Just one offseason later following a 5-12 season by the Browns, it appears the door is now actually open for the team to move on from the two-time Defensive Player of the Year. 

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Browns and Garrett agreed to move his $29.2 million option bonus from March 25 to seven days before the season begins in September. This will happen each year of the remaining contract running through the 2030 season. Cleveland receives no real salary cap benefit from the move outside of now having more flexibility on when they can trade Garrett.

The Browns and refining Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett agreed to some modified language in his contract this week that provides some cap flexibility for the team going forward, as well as some option bonus payment benefit for Garrett: https://t.co/bUrYox8txT

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 25, 2026

Combine this news with the fact the Browns have requested a rule change to allow draft picks to be traded up to five years in advance, it’s clear the team is at least open to moving their cornerstone player. Waiting until after June 1 would allow the Browns to split the dead cap over two seasons, but the door is open for the Browns to move him before then too.

With that being said, I’ve fielded hypothetical trade offers from my colleagues here at A to Z Sports to bring you what a realistic trade scenario could look like for the Browns to move Garrett.  

Dallas pushes to replace Micah Parsons with an aggressive offer 

Browns receive: 2026 first-round pick (No. 12), 2026 first-round pick (No. 20)

Cowboys receive: EDGE Myles Garrett

The Cowboys don’t usually engage in high-profile trades such as this one, but two things are true: Losing Micah Parsons hurt them and they made a serious push for Maxx Crosby, offering as much as a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick. Garrett, though older, is a better player than Crosby. And that’s saying a lot. 

After that whole thing fell apart, I could see the Cowboys being in on Garrett. He’s a true game-changer and the front office hasn’t “bust the budget” like it claimed it would. This is their best opportunity to do so. Perhaps the Browns want more than two first-round picks, but they can offer other teams can’t: Two Top 20 picks this year. — Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports Dallas 

The 49ers try to pair Myles Garrett with Nick Bosa to take over the NFC

Browns receive: EDGE Mykel Williams, 2026 first-round pick (No. 27), 2027 first-round pick

49ers receive: EDGE Myles Garrett, 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 149)

The 49ers are on a roster-building timeline that perfectly fits Garrett’s plan, and pairing him with Nick Bosa would be a nightmare for opposing offenses with the best edge duo in the league by far — one of the best duos ever. It’s hard to part ways with a first-round pick after only one year, but Garrett is comfortably worth it, and adding Mykel Williams to the package could make it more enticing for the Browns.

Garrett is slated to make $31 million in 2026, and the 49ers are 10th in the NFL in cap space with more than $28 million, so adjusting the cap room to absorb Garrett’s deal isn’t complex. The combination of two first-round picks and a high-level prospect is an offer difficult to match, and the 49ers have talent to compete, cap space, and draft capital to make it all work to perfection. — Wendell Ferreira, A to Z Sports

The Seahawks follow up their Super Bowl win with a blockbuster trade to try to run it back 

Browns receive: 2026 first-round pick (No. 32), 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick, and TE Elijah Arroyo

Seahawks receive: EDGE Myles Garrett 

The Seattle Seahawks are in the perfect position to make a win-now move like this. The team was likely going to target an edge rusher early in the draft anyway, so why not push the chips in and try to maximize their Super Bowl window right now while it’s wide open? 

Sending three firsts, a second, and a young player like Elijah Arroyo is a massive price, but if it leads to another Super Bowl for Seattle, I think the team and the fan base would believe it was worth every penny. Garrett is arguably the best player in the NFL, no matter the position. If you are going to push the chips in on a player, he is the one to do it for. — Destin Adams, A to Z Sports  

Bears swing for the fences to try to get to a Super Bowl with Caleb Williams 

Browns receive: 2026 first-round (25th overall), 2027 first-round, DT Gervon Dexter Sr.

Bears receive: EDGE Myles Garrett

Based on the initial agreed-upon price for Maxx Crosby, the price for Myles Garrett will have to involve two first-round picks to start the conversation. General manager Ryan Poles confirmed the Bears made calls for Maxx Crosby but ultimately balked at the price and honestly dodged a bullet after seeing how things went down in Baltimore with his long-term injury concerns. With Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, it’s a different story.

Garrett is a player worth giving up the future for, even if he’s an older player than Crosby. Saying Garrett is actually dealt, I can easily see the Browns getting a Micah Parsons-like package for him. The best Chicago could possibly offer is two first-round picks and a young defensive tackle in Gervon Dexter Sr. It’s going to be a tough pill to swallow for the Bears but it would be an all-in move that the Bears could easily absorb for 2026. — Kole Noble, A to Z Sports Chicago

Patriots aim to get back to the Super Bowl with an offer to acquire the Defensive Player of the Year

Browns receive: 2026 first-round pick (No. 31), 2027 second-round pick

Patriots receive: EDGE Myles Garrett

The New England Patriots are in a bit of a tricky spot with their roster construction. On one hand, they could use some capital to continue and refine the offense and build around Drake Maye for the foreseeable future. On the other hand, they are the reigning AFC Champions, and you should never waste a Super Bowl window, because you don’t know when it will open again. A sound strategy would be to find day one starters in the draft, but that’s easier said than done. 

Insert not only a ready-made starter, but the best defensive player in the NFL, and New England’s Super Bowl window just got extended. Garrett may have just turned 30, but pass rushers have proven to excel into their mid 30s. Garrett also isn’t your average pass rusher. He’s tormented opposing offensive tackles and coordinators for years. I would love to see him with a defensive genius and culture setter like Mike Vrabel. Parting ways with a first-rounder this year and a second-rounder next year feels more than appropriate for New England. — Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports

You know Howie Roseman and the Eagles are going to be in the mix

Browns receive: 2026 first-round pick (No. 23), 2026 4th-round pick (No. 114), 2027 second-round pick 

Eagles receive: EDGE Myles Garrett

Philly makes the Super Bowl-aggressive move to improve their pass rush here. Jaelan Phillips left for the Carolina Panthers in free agency, so EDGE rusher is still one of the bigger holes on the Eagles defensive depth chart.Howie Roseman has never been afraid to make a bold move involving draft capital, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Garrett was on his radar. — Adam Holt, A to Z Sports

Vikings get in to the mix with an attractive offer

Browns receive: 2027 first-round pick, conditional 2028 and 2029 first-round picks (swap), and EDGE Jonathan Greenard

Vikings receive: EDGE Myles Garrett 

Vikings send 2027 first-round pick, conditional 2028 and 2029 first-round picks (one goes to the Browns, one is a pick swap), and choice of EDGE Jonathan Greenard or Andrew Van Ginkel to the Browns for Myles Garrett

Listen, the Vikings don’t necessarily need to be giving up draft assets to get a player, but this isn’t just a good player. It’s arguably the best edge rusher to ever walk the planet. He’s still in his prime, and Brian Flores could unlock him in a way that other teams might not be able to. His ability to maximize pressure packages would be so easy in the Vikings’ defense. He would arguably elevate that unit to the best in the league, and having an average quarterback could get the VIkings their first Super Bowl. — Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Minnesota 

Which offer would the Browns take? 

It’s the Seahawks’ offer by a mile. If Cleveland can get three first-round picks plus a second-round pick and a young tight end to pair with Harold Fannin Jr. Cleveland doesn’t have to move Garrett, so holding onto him makes sense unless you get an offer you can’t turn down. Seattle’s hypothetical offer is an all-time haul, and one you would see given up for a franchise quarterback potentially. 

Garrett would get to land with a team that is sure to be competing for it all once again in 2026. Cleveland would be happy to send him to the NFC rather than having him in the AFC, so they win there as well. There’s no debating the haul would speed up the Browns having a complete roster to reach the playoffs again.