FRISCO – How serious are the Dallas Cowboys about making an “aggressive” toward a Micah Parsons bookend in the form of Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett? Garrett just made a decision that should help Cowboys Nation find out. Garrett, 29, was the No. 1 pick of the 2017 Draft, is a four-time All-Pro and has been a loyal citizen in Cleveland. But he’s tired of going nowhere and has asked the Browns to trade him.
As legendary player in Browns franchise history, Cleveland has made overtures toward keeping him happy by suggesting a contract extension. His reported response? Garrett is “not open” to a contract extension from the Browns. In fact, reporter Mary Kay Cabot writes that he has “slammed the door” on negotiations. That is a powerful message sent not only to the Browns, but also to other bidders. His point? This is about more than money.
Can Dallas – his hometown team as he grew up in Arlington in the shadow of AT&T Stadium – be a bidder? Absolutely. Garrett has two years left on his contract with cap hits of about $20 million in each. The “message” aside, we bet a new contract will likely be part of the package, wherever he lands. This all started at the start of the month in February with Garrett’s official announcement.
“While I’ve loved calling this city (Cleveland) my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent,” Garrett announced on Monday. “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.” Frustrated with the Browns – still drafting in the top five nearly a decade after taking Garrett with the first pick in 2017 – the superstar has suggested that he needs to see a reasonable path to success.
Is a shocking Garrett trade likely? He’s an All-World player at the height of his powers. It’ll be costly to get him. Meanwhile, after an underwhelming Dallas 7-10 campaign, are the Cowboys seen as a Super Bowl team? Garrett has a pristine reputation and like Dallas’ Parsons – who has reached out to him – is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year finalist. He has foot injury issues that his perspective new team will want to examine.
But for a team with Super Bowl dreams? Now that he has officially requested a trade from the Browns, and now that he’s “shut the door” on them, clubs like the Cowboys (who can create $100 million in cap room as needed) can do more than just dream.
