Cleveland Browns reporters such as Mary Kay Cabot and Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer have repeatedly made it known the club won't be trading star pass-rusher Myles Garrett anytime soon even though he wants to leave Cleveland to join an advertised contender this offseason.
During a Monday appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, Browns insider Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette shared that he believes "it's still real close to 50/50 whether or not the Browns trade" Garrett before the 2025 season gets underway.
Petrak echoed others who previously said that the Browns could essentially begin a needed roster rebuild by acquiring multiple draft assets for Garrett. However, the fact that Garrett seemingly only wants to go to a good team could cause the Browns to pass on offers that would include low first-round draft picks for the 29-year-old who is still in his prime and still capable of earning Defensive Player of the Year Award honors.
Specifically, multiple stories have named the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings as potential destinations for Garrett. While he is under contract through the 2026 season, it's widely believed he will put pen to paper on a deal that will include a pay raise before he plays another down of meaningful football for the Browns or a different club.
On paper, the Browns don't have to make a final decision about Garrett before the 2025 draft concludes and can take his temperature regarding his feelings about the club's offseason activities this summer. He said on Super Bowl Sunday he's "willing to do whatever it takes" to receive his desired trade, but it's unclear as of the third Monday of February if he would sit regular-season games out to protest still being with Cleveland come September.
If it's true that Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski believe they can assemble a roster that can at least pursue a playoff berth through Week 18 of the 2025 season, they likely will do everything possible to hold onto Garrett unless a club makes a so-called "'Godfather' offer" for his services. Then again, perhaps it being "50/50" that the Browns could trade Garrett means Berry is simply waiting to see what he can get for the All-Pro as soon as next month.
