Lions, Browns GMs Shut Down Myles Garrett Trade Rumors
Sorry, Lions fans, but it looks like the dream of Myles Garrett coming to Detroit is officially dead—for now, at least.
Despite Garrett’s public request to be traded, Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry made it crystal clear at the NFL Combine that the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year isn’t going anywhere.
“Our stance really has not changed,” Berry said. “We can’t imagine a situation where not having Myles as a part of this organization is best for the Browns.”
Translation: No deal.
Lions GM Brad Holmes, who spoke shortly after Berry, didn’t directly comment on Garrett—because, well, tampering—but he did shed some light on why landing an elite pass rusher via trade is easier said than done.
“There are not a lot of those guys available,” Holmes said. “Just because we lost a star pass rusher due to injury, that doesn’t mean that other teams are going to say, ‘Hey, we have a star pass rusher… would you like to have this one?’ No, that’s a star pass rusher for that team and they’re trying to win games.”
Holmes has already made moves in the past to boost Detroit’s pass rush. When Aidan Hutchinson suffered his season-ending injury last year, the Lions traded for Browns DE Za’Darius Smith. But as Holmes explained, getting an elite guy like Garrett isn’t that simple.
The bigger issue? Money.
The Lions are already preparing to pay Aidan Hutchinson, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Detroit has the option to pick up his fifth-year extension, but at some point, he’s going to need a major payday. Adding another elite pass rusher on top of that could be tough financially.
So, could the Lions still find a way to make it work?
“Probably not,” Holmes said bluntly.
Welp. Looks like this rumor is officially dead—unless something crazy happens down the road.
