As the NBA trade deadline approaches, it appears that trade fever has bled into the NFL as well. Big names like Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp have been placed on the trade block.
Other players are projected by analysts to be traded to help relieve team cap space or to kick off a full rebuild. One player has taken matters into his own hands, deciding he no longer wants to play for his team.
Perennial All-Pro and NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate DE Myles Garrett has made himself available for trade. The source? Well, himself.
The Texas A&M alumni announced via social media that he has decided to move on from the team that drafted him with the first overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft: the Cleveland Browns.
Sometimes the team can knuckle down and the player has a change of heart when it comes to situations like this. However, in this situation, I think the Browns should just cut their losses and grant Garrett the trade he is requesting.
Playing hard ball would only make the process more painful, and the longer it drags out, the higher the chance that the return on the trade won’t be as substantial. Let’s pretend the Browns are fair game in this scenario.
They would likely be asking for certain things in return. Do the Cowboys have what is needed to be players in the Myles Garrett sweepstakes?
A Player of Comparison
By “player of comparison”, I don’t necessarily mean the same position. I make this distinction because players have different roles on the field.
Comparison, to me, is more of the impact on the field. You can count on one hand how many players can be as impactful as Myles Garrett is on the field, and none of them will be part of any deal unless teams try to replicate the Luka Doncic to Los Angeles Lakers trade.
For that reason, any trade will need to include a player of comparison along with draft picks to get a deal done.
The Cowboys happen to have one of the players who matches Garrett’s impact on the field, but Micah Parsons won’t be going anywhere any time soon.
No other player compares to Garrett’s impact, but the Browns would likely want another defensive end in return.
Parsons is out of the question, and Sam Williams is returning from an ACL tear. The only other defensive end under contract is Marshawn Kneeland, who will be entering his second season.
If Kneeland doesn’t satisfy the Browns, their focus may shift to a different type of player…
A Player of Need
No team is perfect, and the Browns have their share of holes in the roster or their team captain wouldn’t be requesting a trade out of town.
If the Cowboys defensive end depth chart doesn’t wow them, they could decide to fill another hole in their roster with a Cowboys player at a different position.
The Browns could use some help at several positions, but the Cowboys don’t have enough depth to send in return unless they make a tough decision on defense.
There is an old saying that goes “it’s not a good trade unless both sides feel hurt”, and I feel that’s the only type of trade that can bring Garrett to Dallas. Most likely, the only player the Browns would accept in return is CB DaRon Bland.
That would hurt badly considering Trevon Diggs’ injury has an unknown timetable, and Bland is looking more and more like the cornerback of the future.
Premium Draft Picks
Lastly, the Browns would want some draft picks in return for sending their best player to Dallas. Here is where it gets tricky.
The Cowboys’ brass is going to be reluctant to send any draft picks to Cleveland, much less premium draft picks. If a player the caliber of Bland is going back to the Browns, it shouldn’t take more than one first round pick to acquire Garrett.
Let’s say the 12th pick in the draft this season, plus a 2026 2nd and 6th. I feel like that would be enough of a package to send to the Browns, especially because it’s Garrett forcing himself out and the team should scramble for whatever they can get.
Be prepared for random late round picks to be swapped. Nobody knows exactly how teams arrive to those terms, but we respect it.
Will the Cowboys Actually Do It?
My gut says no. But summarizing what it would take to get Garrett in a Cowboys uniform, we came up with the following package to offer:
Cowboys receive: DE Myles Garrett, 2025 5th, 2026 7th
Browns receive: CB DaRon Bland, 2025 1st, 2026 2nd, 2026 6th
As much as it would hurt to see Bland go, the thought of Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett on the same defensive line hunting quarterbacks makes it hurt much less.
I don’t think this happens, but it would be something if it did, huh?