So why would he join the Patriots?

Cleveland Browns superstar Myles Garrett requested to be traded Monday after the organization expressed last week it didn’t intend to trade him. Multiple reports surfaced minutes after Garrett’s request stressing the franchise maintains its position. However, Garrett undoubtedly put pressure on Cleveland and now will factor into headlines throughout Super Bowl week.

“While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allot me to be complacent,” Garrett wrote in a statement. “The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete and win a Super Bowl.”

New England feels closer to contention than Cleveland, sure. The Patriots hired 2021 Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel, who worked with Garrett last season in Cleveland, and have their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye. Meaningful football in December should be an attainable goal in 2025 for a team coming off consecutive four-win seasons.

Meanwhile, the Browns might’ve signed quarterback Deshaun Watson to one of the worst contracts in sports, and continue to have a major question mark at the position. Chances are they select a signal-caller with the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Additionally, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski enter next season fighting for their jobs. Oh yeah, and the Browns play in a division with perennial MVP candidates Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. It’s a bleak outlook, no doubt.

But if the 29-year-old Garrett, a First Team All-Pro in four of the last five seasons, really wants to compete for a Super Bowl, he’s not circling Foxboro, Mass., on a list of desired landing spots.

Super Bowl contention goes through Philadelphia and Kansas City with Buffalo, Washington, Detroit, Green Bay, Cincinnati and Baltimore figured to be in title contention next year and beyond. It’s going to take some time for New England to be included with those teams.

So while a trade for Garrett would increase New England’s talent exponentially — and is a deal the Patriots should kick the tires on — it’s extremely far-fetched to think Garrett will play at Gillette Stadium anytime in the near future. Regardless of the trade assets the Patriots have or the fact Garrett is familiar with Vrabel.