The New England Patriots seem to be in the market to make a big trade at edge rusher this offseason. But it doesn’t appear that blockbuster move will be for Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry shot down all trade speculation regarding the 2-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner at the NFL annual league meetings to begin this week.
“Myles is a career Brown. He is one of the faces of our organization,” Berry told reporters, via Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. “I think we’ve been very clear both past and present in terms of our feelings.
“I understand all the questions. I’ll be honest, I don’t really want to waste a ton more breath on the topic.”
Garrett requested a trade on social media from the Browns last offseason. But then he signed a 4-year, $160 million extension, which ended any trade rumors.
They started again this month, though, when the Browns and Garrett agreed to a contract restructuring that deferred his bonuses until August.
The Patriots remain in the edge rusher market after losing veteran K’Lavon Chaisson in NFL free agency. Chaisson was second for New England in sacks last season.
Browns Trying to End Myles Garrett Trade Talks
CBS Sports’s John Breech explained on March 26 why the Browns changing the language in Garrett’s contract could be a move done to eventually trade the edge rusher this offseason.
“Garrett was set to receive an option bonus on the 15th day of the league year (March 25), but both sides agreed to push that date to seven days before the first regular-season game,” wrote CBS Sports’s John Breech. “The move means the Browns won’t have to pay that money until September — and wouldn’t have to pay it at all if Garrett isn’t on the roster.”
In addition to Garrett’s contract, the Browns proposed changing the NFL’s rules regarding draft pick trades. Under current NFL restrictions, teams cannot trade picks that are more than three years into the future. Cleveland’s new proposal would allow teams to trade picks up to five years away.
Pundits saw the proposal as another sign the Browns were going to trade Garrett. If teams could agree to send Cleveland first-round picks in 2030 and 2031, maybe it would have been easier for the Browns to deal the edge rusher.
But Berry made it as clear as possible Garrett isn’t available.
“If we wanted to trade Myles, we wouldn’t have needed to make a contract adjustment,” Berry told reporters. “So it doesn’t have anything to do with that.”
Interestingly, the Browns withdrew their new draft pick trade proposal on Monday.
Why the Patriots Could Be in the Market for Splash Move at Edge Rusher
New England signed veteran edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones to a 3-year, $36 million contract in free agency. But having also lost Chaisson, the Patriots may just be treading water at edge rusher this offseason.
While the Patriots had an elite defense last season, they only had 35 sacks. That ranked New England 22nd in the NFL.
To greatly improve defensively and become the favorites to win the AFC again, pundits have encouraged the Patriots to make a big splash at edge rusher. Garrett would be the biggest deal of any potential trade New England could make along the edge.
But it appears dead in the water as of March 30.
The Patriots will have to turn back to hope the Las Vegas Raiders could trade them Maxx Crosby. Or, New England could pursue a more minor free agent such as Kyle Van Noy.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Patriots Receive Discouraging News on Potential Myles Garrett Trade appeared first on Heavy Sports.