Chaos in Cleveland: Myles Garrett Preparing to Miss Games if He’s Not Traded
Drama continues to unfold in Cleveland. Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett recently requested a meeting with owner Jimmy Haslam, who declined to speak amidst Garrett’s trade request, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Both sides are not budging, and Cleveland refuses to even discuss a trade.
Garrett recently doubled down that he wants out of Cleveland. Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Garrett is “not open” to a contract extension with the team. Garrett and his camp, led by agent Nicole Lynn of Klutch Sports, have apparently slammed the door shut on negotiations. Pelissero reports that Garrett is preparing to miss games if he’s not traded.
Things are certainly getting hostile in Cleveland.
“My desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent,” Garrett wrote last month. “The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.”
At the NFL Combine, Browns general manager Andrew Berry revealed the team has not changed its mind on Garrett’s trade demand.
“Our stance really has not changed,” Berry said via Adam Schefter of ESPN. “We’re not interested in moving him.”
Myles Garrett signed a five-year, $125 million extension in 2020, which leaves two years left on the deal. His contract carries salary-cap hits of $19.7 million and $20.4 million in 2025 and 2026. However, Garrett revealed his trade request is not about money. He wants to play for a Super Bowl contender.
The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles could be the landing spot for Garrett. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported Saturday that the Eagles’ interest is “real,” and one general manager compared a trade for Garrett to the Eagles’ signing of running back Saquon Barkley last offseason.
“He’s an impact add and isn’t a free-agent overpay,” the GM said. “[General manager Howie Roseman’s] not afraid to try stuff, and it fits where they are as a team.”
On Thursday, the Browns converted $44.745 million of Deshaun Watson’s 2025 salary into signing bonus, creating $35.79 million of cap space. The Browns are now cap compliant, holding only $12.8 million in Top 51 cap space.
The disastrous Watson deal continues to haunt the Browns. And now there best player is willing to sit out games until he’s dealt out of Cleveland.