Myles Garrett has spent his entire NFL career playing for the Cleveland Browns. He has set out to change this by formally requesting a trade from the AFC North team.
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NFL insider Ian Rapoport obtained a statement from Garrett on Monday, one that provided insight into the request. As the veteran defender explained, his goal is to compete for and win a Super Bowl. This has not been possible in Cleveland during his tenure.
"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 said in the statement.
"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."
Garrett, 29, has been a member of the Browns since the team selected him first overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has posted 102.5 sacks and 352 combined tackles during his career while earning six trips to the Pro Bowl. He has been named All-Pro four times.
Garrett is also the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
While the former first-overall pick has delivered big plays on defense, he has not had many opportunities to compete for a championship. The Browns have only made the playoffs twice during his time on the roster (2020, 2023). They have not won the AFC North.
Requesting a trade is Garrett's main option at this point. According to Spotrac, he has two years remaining on a five-year, $125 million extension he signed in 2020. He is due a roster bonus of $5 million on March 16.
Speaking with reporters last week, Browns General Manager Andrew Berry said that he was not interested in trading Garrett, even for two first-round picks.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, Berry said that he anticipates doing another contract extension with Garrett so that the defender can retire in Cleveland.
