Myles Garrett has officially requested a trade from the Browns, according to a statement obtained by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
“As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl — and that goal fuels me today more than ever,” Garrett wrote. “My love for the community of Northeast Ohio and the incredible fanbase of the Cleveland Browns has made this one of the toughest decisions of my life. These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today.
“While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.
“With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”
The 29-year-old is coming off a seventh consecutive season in which he recorded double-digit sacks, including four straight with 14 or more. Garrett has earned four All-Pro honors and is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. It goes without saying that the Falcons should be interested.
Browns GM Andrew Berry recently said that he wasn’t interested in trading Garrett, but we know how these things have gone before. Players have more power than ever, and if Garrett wants out, he will likely get his wish.
The superstar pass rusher inked a five-year, $125 million extension in 2020, so he’s got two years left on his deal. His salary cap hits of $19.7 million and $20.4 million in 2025 and 2026 are insane bargains.
Myles Garrett will certainly become the highest-paid defender in history whenever his time comes to re-up on his contract. The Falcons should empty the clip and do whatever is necessary to acquire Garrett. He’s a generational player and would immediately become the best pass rusher in franchise history. The Falcons have long needed a player that could consistently impact the quarterback, and Garrett might be the best to do it since entering the league.
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Photographer: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire
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