The Cleveland Browns have officially clarified their stance on the future of star defensive end Myles Garrett after a significant restructuring of his contract sparked widespread trade speculation across the NFL.
Following reports that the team adjusted the timing of Garrett’s massive option bonuses, rumors began to swirl that Cleveland was preparing for a blockbuster move to offload the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. However, the organization has since moved to silence those whispers, reaffirming their commitment to the cornerstone of their defense as they navigate a pivotal 2026 offseason.
Fans and analysts alike have been dissecting the financial implications of this move, wondering if it signaled a shift in the team’s long-term strategy.
Let’s take a closer look.
Why did the Browns restructure Myles Garrett’s deal?
The Browns and Myles Garrett agreed to modify the language in his contract to provide the team with enhanced financial flexibility during the current league year.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the primary change involves the timing of option bonuses originally scheduled to be exercised by March 25, 2026. These payments, which apply to the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons, have now been pushed back to a deadline just seven days before the start of each regular season.
This technical adjustment does not necessarily save the Browns’ immediate salary cap space, but it does alter the team’s cash flow requirements for the spring. By delaying these massive payouts, General Manager Andrew Berry has more breathing room to manage the roster during the draft and the secondary wave of free agency.
Fun fact: Myles Garrett is a massive fan of paleontology and has spent his off-seasons visiting museums and studying dinosaur fossils, even joking that he would have been a paleontologist if football didn’t work out.
Is a trade actually on the table for the star defender?
Despite the increased flexibility the restructure provides, the Cleveland Browns remain adamant that they have no intention of trading Myles Garrett this season. NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported that the team has been “adamant” in private and public circles that the contract tweak was not a precursor to a move. While shifting the bonus dates makes a trade theoretically easier by allowing an acquiring team to take on those payments, Cleveland leadership maintains that Garrett is untouchable.
The speculation was fueled by the fact that Garrett previously requested a trade in early 2025 before eventually signing his record-breaking four-year, $160 million extension. Critics argued that the Browns might be looking to capitalize on his value while he is at his peak, especially after he set a single-season record with 23 sacks last year.
What are the salary cap implications of the move?
The restructuring move ensures that Garrett’s cap hit remains manageable for 2026 while the team retains the ability to make further roster additions. Currently, Garrett carries a cap charge of approximately $23.5 million for the 2026 season, a figure that is relatively team-friendly given his production as a multi-time All-Pro. By pushing the option bonus deadlines to September, the Browns avoid committing nearly $30 million in cash during the early months of the league year.
By moving the option-bonus deadlines to just before the regular season, Cleveland preserved more flexibility later in the offseason. Public reporting on the contract change noted that the revised timing would make a post-June 1 trade easier to structure, even as the Browns have said they are not planning to move Garrett.
How does this affect the Browns’ 2026 outlook?
Retaining Myles Garrett is central to the Browns’ hopes of rebounding from a disappointing 5-12 finish in the 2025 season.
Cleveland’s defense remains the strongest unit on the team, and Garrett’s ability to disrupt opposing offenses is the engine that drives that success. While the offense has faced significant hurdles, particularly regarding the quarterback position and overall scoring output, the front office clearly believes that keeping an elite talent like Garrett is better than starting over with draft picks.
The decision to stay the course with Garrett also sends a message to the locker room that the team is not entering a full-scale rebuild. Keeping Garrett signals that Cleveland is still trying to compete rather than tearing the roster down. With the 2026 draft approaching, the Browns can continue building around him instead of searching for a replacement at defensive end.
Fun fact: In 2025, Myles Garrett became the first player in NFL history to record at least 20 sacks in a season twice, further cementing his status as a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.
What is the next step for the Browns’ front office?
With Garrett remaining in place, the Browns still have important roster questions to address before the season. Cleveland had proposed expanding the draft-pick trade window from three years to five, but that proposal was withdrawn at the annual league meeting.
Andrew Berry already addressed Garrett’s contract adjustment at the NFL Annual League Meeting and said it was unrelated to a trade. For now, Cleveland’s public position is unchanged: the Browns plan to keep Garrett and move forward with him as a foundational piece of the roster. They are holding onto their best player and betting that his generational talent will be enough to keep them relevant in a hyper-competitive division while they fix the rest of the roster.
Fun fact: Aside from football, Garrett is a minority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, showing his deep ties and financial investment in the Cleveland sports community beyond the gridiron.
TL;DR
- The Cleveland Browns restructured Myles Garrett’s contract, moving his option bonus deadlines from March to September.
- This move sparked trade rumors, but the team is reportedly “adamant” that Garrett will not be traded in 2026.
- The restructure provides the team with cash flow flexibility but does not significantly alter its $23.5 million cap hit for this year.
- Garrett is coming off a record-setting 2025 season where he recorded 23 sacks and won his second Defensive Player of the Year award.
- The Browns are choosing to build around Garrett rather than entering a full rebuild despite a 5-12 record last season.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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