With the 2026 NFL Draft right around the corner, the upgrades the Patriots need to make for their roster are beyond clear. Most would agree that their most pressing need is to improve their pass rush, and that has connected the team to a few potentially tradable players, with the most recent being Maxx Crosby.
There is still a possibility that the Raiders will entertain offers for their superstar defender after the Ravens backed out of their trade agreement, but nothing appears to be imminent.
There are, however, some developments regarding Myles Garrett, who recently adjusted his contract with the Browns and seemingly made himself more tradeable, despite the no-trade clause in his contract.
The Browns moving back the exercise dates of Myles Garrett’s option bonuses freed up zero cap space.
The bonuses are already prorated over 5 years for cap purposes, and would remain that way if/when exercised.
The move does however keep all “options” on the table.
https://twitter.com/spotrac/status/2037236092718432765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
That immediately sparked interest within New England, as acquiring Myles Garrett would be an absolute dream blockbuster scenario that didn’t seem at all possible. It would (obviously) be very expensive to get the deal done, but it’s likely that Patriots fans would be more willing to see the team give up multiple first-round picks for him than Crosby.
So that has become a topic of conversation over the last few days, only for it to be put to bed before anything serious could be considered.
Despite the recent rumors, it doesn’t look like Myles Garrett will be traded this offseason
With the idea of Garrett being traded heating up after the reports about his adjusted contract were made public, NFL insiders came out of the woodwork to address the situation before it got out of hand.
That, unfortunately, means the Patriots can kiss their dream trade goodbye for now and in the long term.
NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported Friday on Good Morning Football that the Browns are “adamant” they have no intention to trade the Defensive Player of the Year, and it has never been a possibility before and won’t be in the future.
“It was not on the table last year. It is not on the table again this year. … The Browns are saying they’re not gonna trade him, and they’ve promised us that we’re not gonna look dumb if we say that. So we’ll see.”
While it’s understandable that the Browns feel this way and probably mean it in the moment, their franchise is clearly far from winning anything anytime soon, and Garrett would yield a hefty return that could drastically improve their roster immediately and in the long term.
They really messed things up when they shockingly traded for QB Deshaun Watson and gave up multiple high draft picks to get the deal done. It has clearly hindered their progress, and moving on from a player like Garrett would make a lot of sense if they want to build for the future and to eventually be a competitive team.
Garrett has made it clear on numerous occasions that he’s not exactly thrilled with the direction of the Browns, and given his Hall of Fame resume, it almost seems unfair to see him continue his career on a team that won’t ever reach the Super Bowl, or play any meaningful games, for that matter.
That is likely not on the minds of those in Cleveland’s front office, but perhaps it should, considering the return they would get. And that’s something the Patriots should be all over.
Imagine Garrett leading the Patriots’ defense in 2026 and beyond. They haven’t had that caliber of player on the defensive line in years. He would make them one of the best groups in the entire NFL and surely improve their chance to make another Super Bowl run, which is exactly what Mike Vrabel and Co. are inevitably hoping for.
But, for now, we’ll just have to sit back and wait until the Browns possibly change their mind.
