Can the Dallas Cowboys really make a trade for Myles Garrett? What top NFL insider and the facts say
The Cleveland Browns’ decision to modify Myles Garrett’s contract kickstarted trade rumors. But they’re sending mixed signals.
The moment the Cleveland Browns modified Myles Garrett’s contract to push back the dates of option bonuses that would’ve made the star pass rusher nearly untradable, leaguewide speculation kicked into high gear.
That includes fans and media members around the Dallas Cowboys, who immediately wondered if their push for Maxx Crosby earlier in the month could translate into a push to acquire Garrett.
That includes me. Recently, I published an article exploring a potential Cowboys-Browns trade scenario. However, one of the top NFL insiders in the game is pouring some cold water on the bonfire of Garrett rumors. Let’s break down what he said and compare it to the facts.
Adam Schefter on the Browns’ firm stance
Speaking on ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show, NFL insider Adam Schefter made it clear the Browns are claiming they’re intent on keeping Garrett.
“Right away I called the Browns,” Schefter said on the show. “And they’re like ‘We’re 100% definitely not trading him’. Now I will say this, they were adamant about it. And they’re like ‘Don’t even bring it up and dignify [the rumors], because we’re not trading him.”
Duly noted and not far-fetched at all. Just last year, the Browns signed Garrett to a $40 million per year contract extension in the heels of long-lasting trade rumors. Prior to the deal, Garrett publicly requested a trade.
And yet, those are last year’s facts. Not to mention, we heard similar stuff from the Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders before trades were agreed to for Micah Parsons and Maxx Crosby (even though the latter one fell apart).
So what about this year’s facts?
What the facts say about Garrett’s availability
They say actions speak louder than words and the one thing no one has been able to explain yet is, if it isn’t for trade flexibility, why did the Browns and Garrett modify the contract?
The benefits are minimal otherwise.
“The Browns don’t gain any cap room by making this move unless they actually changed the option amounts this year,” salary cap expert Jason Fitzgerald wrote on Over the Cap. “They already had the lowest cap charge possible for Garrett, outside of converting some per game bonuses to a signing bonus. All this does is give the team the maximum flexibility to trade Garrett assuming they were to get him to waive a his no trade clause. I guess there is also the soft factor of having everyone on the team have a similar exercise date.”
Then there’s the Browns roster situation.
They lack a high-caliber starting quarterback, the offensive line is filled with question marks, and playmakers are nowhere to be found on offense. They’re in full rebuild mode after firing Kevin Stefanski as head coach. To be frank, Garrett is unlikely to be a part of a contending Browns team.
That is to say, the Browns dealing Garrett away would hurt them, but it would also allow them to speed up their rebuild process. Say the Cowboys give up their two Top 20 picks for this year’s class. That would arm Cleveland with four first-round picks in 2026.
For now, the Browns’ stance isn’t surprising. If you want the highest offers in the trade market, you don’t advertise you’re interested in dealing Garrett away. But the facts suggest a trade is viable, at minimum.
Now we wait.
Dallas Cowboys News
The door just swung open for the Dallas Cowboys to trade for Myles Garrett, and they can offer something no one else can
The Cleveland Browns are clearly open to dealing Myles Garrett, and there’s reason to believe the Dallas Cowboys could be interested.
