Myles Garrett’s trade market just got a whole lot more interesting. The Las Vegas Raiders’ decision to ship pass rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens has reset the going rate for elite edge talent across the NFL, and Cleveland Browns brass are watching every development closely as the 2026 free agency period opens.
Bleacher Report published a trade-value projection for Garrett in the days following the Crosby deal, framing the Browns’ franchise cornerstone as one of the most coveted defensive players available if Cleveland ever pulled the trigger on a move. The timing matters. With Crosby’s price tag now established as a market anchor, any team shopping for a top-end pass rusher knows exactly what the floor looks like.
Why the Crosby Deal Changes Myles Garrett’s Market
The Maxx Crosby trade to Baltimore set a concrete benchmark for elite edge rusher compensation and return value. Before that deal closed, front offices were operating on projections. Now they have a real transaction to reference when calculating what Myles Garrett — a player who has posted double-digit sacks in multiple seasons and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors — would actually cost in picks and cap space.
Breaking down the advanced metrics, Garrett’s pressure rate and pass rush win rate have consistently ranked among the top three at his position over the past three seasons. The numbers suggest his market value exceeds Crosby’s, not because Crosby isn’t elite, but because Garrett is two years younger and still operating at the peak of his physical tools. That age curve matters enormously to cap-conscious front offices evaluating multi-year roster construction.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton reportedly texted Crosby after the Raiders trade was announced, a detail that reveals just how closely coaches around the league track these moves. When a deal of that magnitude drops, every defensive coordinator with a pass rush need starts recalibrating their offseason board.
Which Teams Could Target the Cleveland Browns’ Star Defender?
Bleacher Report identified several best-fit destinations for Myles Garrett in the event Cleveland makes him available, connecting his skill set to teams with both the cap room and the draft capital to make a serious offer. The Browns have not publicly indicated any willingness to move their franchise player, but the Crosby deal has made the conversation unavoidable around the league.
Several contenders carry the salary cap flexibility to absorb a contract of Garrett’s magnitude. Teams that missed the playoffs in 2025 and carry top-ten picks are the most logical trade partners — they can offer premium draft compensation without gutting a roster that’s already competing. A team surrendering two first-round picks plus a starter-level player would represent the kind of haul that could genuinely accelerate Cleveland’s rebuild, if that’s the direction the front office chooses.
The film shows why demand would be immediate. Garrett’s first-step quickness off the snap, combined with a counter spin move that offensive tackles simply cannot reliably neutralize, makes him a scheme-fit for virtually any 4-3 or 3-4 base defense. Defensive coordinators don’t need to build around him — they just plug him in at the five-technique or stand-up rush end spot and let the production follow.
Trey Hendrickson and the Free Agency Ripple Effect
Trey Hendrickson’s availability in free agency adds another layer of complexity to the Myles Garrett trade conversation. Bleacher Report outlined top landing spots for Hendrickson after the Crosby deal, noting that teams now face a choice between pursuing a proven veteran free agent or going all-in on a blockbuster trade for Garrett. Those are very different risk profiles.
Hendrickson represents a lower-cost, lower-risk option for teams that want pass rush help without surrendering first-round picks. But here’s the honest counterargument: Hendrickson is 30 years old and entering the back half of his career window, while Garrett is 30 as well but has shown no physical decline. For a team with a two-to-three year championship window, the gap between them on the field is real enough to justify the premium. Based on available data from the 2025 season, that gap in pressure generation is measurable and consistent, not a one-year fluke.
Key Developments in the Myles Garrett Trade Speculation
Bleacher Report specifically framed the Crosby-to-Ravens deal as the catalyst for renewed Myles Garrett trade value projections, publishing the analysis within 48 hours of the Raiders transaction closing.
The Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, and Washington Commanders were all identified as teams active in the pass rusher market during this same offseason window, signaling broad league-wide demand for elite edge talent.
Indianapolis Colts receiver Alec Pierce’s negotiations were described as going “down to the wire” with multiple suitors, illustrating how this free agency period has been defined by prolonged, multi-team bidding wars rather than quick signings.
Sean Payton personally reached out to Maxx Crosby via text following the Raiders trade, a detail that underscores how the coaching community views Crosby’s relocation as a seismic shift in the AFC pass rush landscape.
Wide receivers Mike Evans, Rashid Shaheed, Romeo Doubs, and Wan’Dale Robinson are all in play during the same free agency cycle, meaning team salary cap allocations are being stretched across multiple position groups simultaneously — which directly affects how much draft capital any suitor can realistically offer Cleveland.
What Happens Next for Cleveland’s Franchise Edge Rusher?
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry has not signaled any openness to trading Garrett, and the organization has consistently treated him as untouchable. That posture makes sense on paper — you don’t move a generational pass rusher unless the return is historically good. The Crosby deal, though, has now defined what “historically good” looks like in real dollars and draft picks, which means the Browns’ front office is fielding calls whether they want to or not.
The most likely outcome, based on available data and the Browns’ stated organizational direction, is that Garrett stays in Cleveland through at least the 2026 season. A new coaching staff, a reshaped roster, and a potential contract extension discussion are all more probable near-term developments than a trade. But the salary cap implications of keeping a player at Garrett’s price point — while also rebuilding the offensive side of the ball — will require careful cap management from Berry’s staff. Defensive scheme breakdown analysis suggests Garrett’s value is maximized in a two-gap front that lets him operate freely, not a scheme that asks him to set the edge against the run on every snap.
Draft strategy analysis for Cleveland in the 2026 NFL Draft will also reflect the Garrett situation. If he stays, the Browns can invest high picks on offensive line and quarterback depth. If a trade materializes, that haul of picks reshapes the entire draft board. Either path is defensible. The front office brass just needs to decide which timeline they’re building for.
What is Myles Garrett’s current contract situation with the Cleveland Browns?
Myles Garrett signed a five-year, $125 million extension with the Cleveland Browns in 2020, making him one of the highest-paid defensive players in NFL history at the time. His deal includes significant guaranteed money, which means any trade would require the acquiring team to absorb a substantial cap hit. The Browns would also carry dead money depending on when a trade occurred.
How does Myles Garrett compare to Maxx Crosby as a pass rusher?
Both players rank among the NFL’s elite edge rushers, but Garrett holds a slight edge in career sack totals and has won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Crosby is widely praised for his run-defense effort and snap count durability. Bleacher Report used the Crosby trade to Baltimore as a baseline for projecting what Garrett’s trade return would look like.
Which NFL teams are the best fits for a Myles Garrett trade?
Bleacher Report projected several best-fit destinations for Garrett following the Maxx Crosby deal, focusing on teams with available cap space and premium draft capital. Contenders with defensive line needs and top-ten picks — particularly those that missed the 2025 playoffs — represent the most realistic trade partners. The Raiders, Patriots, and Titans were all noted as active in the pass rusher market this offseason.
Has Myles Garrett ever requested a trade from Cleveland?
Garrett has not publicly requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns. He has spoken positively about the organization in past media sessions and re-signed his extension without forcing a move. The current trade speculation is driven by outside analysis and the Crosby market reset, not by any reported internal friction between Garrett and Cleveland’s front office.
How would a Myles Garrett trade affect Cleveland’s salary cap?
Trading Garrett would free up significant cap space for the Browns going forward but would generate dead money in the year the trade is processed, depending on the structure of his remaining contract. Cleveland’s salary cap situation heading into 2026 free agency is already under pressure as the team rebuilds its roster, making the timing of any such move a critical factor in the decision-making process.
Marcus Cole is a former college quarterback who has spent over 12 years covering the NFL as a sportswriter. After playing four seasons at the collegiate level, he transitioned to journalism and quickly earned a reputation for breaking down complex play designs in plain English. His work has been featured in regional sports publications across the South, and he has covered six Super Bowls from the press box. Marcus specializes in offensive scheme analysis, quarterback evaluations, and draft coverage.
