The edge rusher market lost Haason Reddick, who is finally on track to make his Jets debut thanks to a recent contract resolution. As teams are in need at the glamour defensive position, inquiries into two of the league’s best are already underway.
Teams have begun asking the Browns if Garrett could be obtained in a trade, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes. Clubs certainly ask on players they do not expect to be made available, but cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports the Browns will not trade their centerpiece defender. Rumors swirled about Garrett’s potential availability last week, as the Browns did part with Amari Cooper, but Garrett has said he wants to finish his career in Cleveland. As it stands, the All-Pro defensive end does not need to worry about relocating.
Cleveland has Garrett tied to an extension that runs through 2026. The Browns did well to lock down the ascending defender on a five-year deal shortly after exercising his fifth-year option. That meant Garrett was under team control for seven more years. We are now in Year 5, and Garrett — who at the time was coming off his suspension stemming from the ugly incident that involved him striking Mason Rudolph with a helmet — has become one of the best players in Browns history. He is in the running for best player since the team rebooted — though, Joe Thomas probably holds that distinction currently — and rumblings about a second extension figure to emerge in 2025…