If the Detroit Lions are considering acquiring a Cleveland Browns edge rusher before the trade deadline, Za’Darius Smith seems like a solid option. However, it wouldn’t hurt to inquire about Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. General manager Brad Holmes might have already reached out, only to be turned down.
The Browns are currently 1-6 and likely looking to sell, but trading Garrett would leave them with substantial dead money this year ($19.3 million) and in 2025 ($36.2 million). That said, those financial concerns don’t affect the acquiring team, and Garrett’s fully guaranteed salary will expire after this season. The Browns would certainly demand a high price for one of the league’s premier pass rushers, which might diminish his viability as a trade target for the Lions to replace Aidan Hutchinson. SI NFL insider Albert Breer has noted that teams are reaching out to the Browns to inquire about Garrett’s availability.
The Lions are expected to have late first-round picks in the coming years. What if they decided to leverage those picks for a bold move? In a discussion about “four trades the Browns couldn’t refuse for Myles Garrett,” Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report proposed a deal where the Browns would receive:
– A 2025 first-round pick
– A 2026 first-round pick
– A conditional 2026 third-round pick (which would upgrade to a second-round pick if the Lions reach the Super Bowl)
In exchange, the Lions would acquire Garrett.
“Adding a top-notch edge rusher like Garrett would help Detroit strengthen their defensive line and create a formidable edge-rushing duo once Hutchinson returns.”
“While the Lions would have to sacrifice multiple Day 1 and 2 picks to get him, the presence of the Cleveland star could help ensure that Detroit’s defense ranks among the best in the NFL in 2024. This gamble could be worthwhile as they aim for the Super Bowl, especially if they tie a conditional Day 2 pick to Garrett’s performance in the postseason.”
The expectation is that the Lions will be drafting towards the end of the first round in 2025 and 2026. Trading away their next two first-round picks could be a risk worth taking to secure Garrett and enhance their chances for a Super Bowl run this year. The potential of pairing Garrett with Hutchinson is almost beyond description.
While it seems unlikely, it’s easy to envision the Lions making a bold move for Garrett.
