The news of Myles Garrett wanting out of Cleveland created an added wrinkle during Super Bowl week. Players in contract disputes often demand a trade to get more money from their team, but this doesn’t seem like a negotiation tactic for Garrett. The 29-year-old reigning Defensive Player of the Year reportedly doesn’t like the direction Cleveland is headed and wants to play for a contender.
This news has brought about speculation and hypotheticals from fans and media members, but a recently resurfaced video could point to Garrett’s next destination.
Myles Garrett Wanted the Cowboys To Draft Him in 2017
Cleveland drafted Garrett with the first overall pick in 2017, and since then he’s been to six Pro Bowls and tallied 102.5 sacks in his short career. He’s made six All-Pro teams, including four first-team selections, and led the Browns to two postseason appearances. If he had his wish back in 2017, though, Garrett would have ended up in a different helmet.
TRENDING: MYLES GARRETT BEGGED TO BE DRAFTED BY THE DALLAS #COWBOYS.
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Jerry Jones is expected to be extremely aggressive this off-season, and Garrett would be an amazing fit for Dallas.
pic.twitter.com/HhH2gYTodX— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) February 4, 2025
He wanted nothing more than to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and pleaded to Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett, saying “I’m speaking to you, Jerry. Mr. Garrett, make it happen.” He continued with an interesting trade proposal, “Dak Prescott is leading our team right now. I need you to take Tony Romo, take a couple picks, and give them to Cleveland so you can pick me up.”
It’s an interesting hypothetical that never came to be, but at least the future DPOY politely finished his request, “Please, I’d love to play in Dallas. Just make it happen.”
Garrett has been a defensive force since arriving in Cleveland, but his recent statement made it clear he’s ready to move on.
Breaking: Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and #Browns star Myles Garrett has requested a trade.
Exclusive statement: pic.twitter.com/LgS5YCeCnP
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 3, 2025
“As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl — and that goal fuels me today more than ever. My love for the community of Northeast Ohio and the incredible fan base of the Cleveland Browns has made this one of the toughest decisions of my life. These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today.”
“While I’ve loved calling the city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl. With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”
So where could Garrett end up? Let’s ignore the salary cap ramifications the Browns face when moving the defensive end and look for teams, other than Dallas, that could be good fits.
Potential Destinations for Garrett
Detroit Lions
When talking about a team with Super Bowl expectations, the Detroit Lions are one of the first to come to mind. It’s surprising when thinking about their franchise history, but head coach Dan Campbell has built one of the toughest teams in the league.
Massive defensive injuries ended Detroit’s season in the Divisional Round, but this is still one of the strongest rosters in the NFL, and adding Garrett could put them over the top.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have been one piece away from taking down the Kansas City Chiefs for the last few seasons. A defensive superstar with 14 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons could be that piece.
READ MORE: 5 Teams That Should Go All-In for the Browns’ Superstar DE Myles Garrett
Buffalo’s defense ranked No. 18 in PFN’s Defense+ metric, and once again couldn’t stop Patrick Mahomes when it mattered most. They hoped signing Von Miller in 2022 was the final piece, but it hasn’t worked out since Miller injured his knee that Thanksgiving. Pairing Garrett with Greg Rousseau could finally get the job done for Bills Mafia.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The one team to beat Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl was Tampa Bay in 2020. Yes, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had Tom Brady that season, but in Super Bowl 55, Tampa’s defense stole the show by sacking Mahomes three times and holding the Chiefs to nine points.
Can they recreate that same quality of defensive play? Tampa’s defense ranked No. 16 in PFN’s Defense+ metric and fell victim to Jayden Daniels in the playoffs. Garrett possibly leaving already makes Cleveland fans cringe, but reuniting with Baker Mayfield would be a dagger to the heart for the Dawg Pound.