If the Detroit Lions are going to pursue a Cleveland Browns' edge rusher between now and the trade deadline, Za'Darius Smith makes a lot of sense. But in the realm of sheer due diligence, asking about reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett couldn't hurt? Maybe general manager Brad Holmes has already made that inquiry, and been denied.
The Browns are 1-6 and pretty clear sellers, but trading Garrett would give them a lot dead money this year ($19.3 million and in 2025 ($36.2 million). But that's not a potential acquiring team's problem, and the fully guaranteed salary in Garrett's contract is done after this year.
The Browns would have, and should have, a massive asking price for one of the best pass rushers in the league. That alone would seem to push him down, if not all the way off, the list of options the Lions are considering as potential trade targets to replace Aidan Hutchinson. SI NFL insider Albert Breer has reported teams have been calling the Browns to do "some fishing" about Garrett's availability.
The Lions surely expect to have late first-round picks the next couple years, so what if they were open to parting with them to make an all-in move?
Grade the trade proposal: Lions go all the way in to get Myles Garrett
With a premise of "4 trades the Browns couldn't turn down for Myles Garrett", Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report has a proposal involving the Lions.
Browns get: 2025 first-round pick, 2026 first-round pick, conditional 2026 third-round pick (becomes a second-rounder if the Lions reach the Super Bowl)
Lions get: Myles Garrett
"Bringing in a top-tier edge rusher like Myles Garrett would allow Detroit to continue dominating the trenches and eventually create the league's most ferocious edge rushing tandem upon Hutchinson's return."
"Although the Lions would have to mortgage the future by giving up multiple Day 1 and 2 picks to acquire him, the Cleveland superstar would almost guarantee Detroit's defense finishes as one of the NFL's best in 2024. It's a risk that's likely worth taking with the Lombardi Trophy in sight and the team could even tie a conditional Day 2 pick to making the Super Bowl with Garrett in the lineup."
Again, the easy expectation is the Lions will be picking in the final few picks of the first round in 2025, 2026, etc. Parting with their next two first-rounders might be a risk worth taking if it means getting Garrett to maximize the opportunity to win the Super Bowl this year. The idea of eventually pairing Garrett with Hutchinson is.....there may not be one word to describe it properly.
Though it feels incredibly unlikely, it's also easy to talk yourself into the Lions making an all-in deal for Garrett.
