Amid speculation over his future in Cleveland, Myles Garrett has officially requested a trade from the Browns.
Garrett said Monday in a statement obtained by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport that he'd like to move elsewhere prior to the 2025 NFL season.
"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 wrote. "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, is coming off his seventh straight double-digit sack season, including four straight with 14 or more. He has earned five straight Pro Bowl bids, has four career first-team All-Pro honors and is the reigning AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry said last week "you can put that on the record" that he wasn’t interested in trading Garrett, even for two first-round picks. Berry even indicated the franchise wanted to sign Garrett to an extension.
Rapoport reported on Monday that the Browns' stance on Garrett has not changed following his request.
Garrett signed a five-year, $125 million extension in 2020, leaving two years left on the deal. His contract carries salary-cap hits of $19.7 million and $20.4 million in 2025 and 2026, respectively. Garrett is due a roster bonus worth $5 million on the fifth day of the league year on March 16.
The Browns have been fairly competitive for most of Garrett's run in Cleveland, although they have made the postseason only twice in his time with the team. Things bottomed out last season as Cleveland dropped to a 3-14 record, even with Garrett leading the NFL with 22 tackles for loss and just one year after an 11-win campaign with the league's top-ranked defense.
Now his time in Cleveland might be nearing an end.
