Browns Intel on Myles Garrett trade makes it easy to see why Cleveland finally pulled the trigger on trading away the All-Pro
With the Browns trading Myles Garret over a year after his trade request and after shutting down rumors all offseason, many are wondering why they finally pulled the trigger. Sources and experts detail why now was the time to make a change.
For the past nine years, there was one thing that everyone associated with the Cleveland Browns could count on: No. 95 in brown and orange going out and wreaking havoc on opposing offenses. A roller coaster ride that included highs like pummeling the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs and lows like trade requests, Garrett remained dominant throughout his tenure in Cleveland.
But that tenure is now over, and some are still wondering why. Unlike last offseason, Garrett didn’t request a trade this go-round. He hadn’t been a part of the offseason program, but it was still voluntary before his departure. So what made Cleveland finally pull the trigger? A to Z Sports spoke with league sources and player representation to answer that question.
Myles Garrett 2025 stats/metrics
- 23 total sacks (NFL record).
- 31 quick pressures (5th most in league).
- 21% pass rush win rate (6th highest in the league).
Sources reveal what helped facilitate Myles Garrett’s trade
“Myles has been a bit of a distraction for a while now. Towards the end, when he was asking for trades and airing things publicly, he started pushing. He would bring a lot of his own people around the facility, and on the sideline, he wasn’t exactly a culture guy. Still the best player in the league, but both sides were ready to move on.”
Despite a new deal that topped the market ahead of the 2025 season and a record-setting sack season that resulted in his second Defensive Player of the Year award, the trade request from last year is hard to come back from. Even when used as a leveraging tool in negotiations, a team and player dynamic is still a relationship, and saying you no longer want to be with a person or entity will put strain on any relationship. For more on the Browns’ decision, here’s expert Brandon Little of A to Z Sports Cleveland.
Why now for a Myles Garrett trade?
On the surface, the Garrett trade was shocking for the Browns when it happened because they said for so long they’d never be trading him, and that he would retire with the Browns. There’s a strong chance he still retires with the Browns one day after spending the first nine years of his career there, but the Browns finally had a shift in feeling to make the trade happen, and that much is clear. The Browns had to get a player back who can contribute with a high ceiling and premium draft capital. They got all of that by getting EDGE Jared Verse from the Rams along with a 2027 first-round, 2028 second-round, and 2029 third-round picks.
When you sit back and look at the trade being made, it definitely makes sense. The Browns won’t be competing for the playoffs in 2026 unless there’s a real surprise at the quarterback position. However, the roster is littered with talent all over and they feel they will be opening a decent competing window here soon if they can find a franchise quarterback. Garrett is entering Year 10 in his career and he wants to compete, which is totally valid with all he’s accomplished. The Browns and Garrett were on two different timelines and Cleveland finally admitted as much by making the trade.
Final Word
Sometimes it’s best to go our separate ways. As Brandon said, it’s clear that the Browns and Garrett are on two different timelines, with different goals in mind. It’s not a bad thing, and it doesn’t mean there’s any bad blood; it’s just the start of a new beginning for both parties.