The ongoing standoff between the Cleveland Browns and star defensive end Myles Garrett shows no sign of ending.
The latest chapter saw Garrett reach out to Browns owner Jimmy Haslam in the hopes for an intervention. However, Haslam told Garrett to speak with general manager Andrew Berry , a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero first reported the request.
It's just the most recent development in the offseason drama involving the Browns and their star player. It's one that shows no signs of finding a resolution anytime soon.
Garrett has made it clear he wants to be traded to a contender, something that started with a trade request in early February. The Browns, especially Berry, have made it clear they have no interest in acquiescing to the demand.
"So Myles, as you guys have all heard me say, he's a huge part of our organization, really good person, he's an awesome player," Berry said last week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis . "Understand the trade request and everything, but our stance really has not changed. We can't imagine a situation where not having Myles as a part of the organization is best for the Browns."
Garrett still has two years remaining on his most recent contract extension. The Browns would take a $36.2 million-plus salary cap hit if they were to trade him before June 1.
If they waited until after June 1, the Browns would take hits on the cap of $14.8 million this year and $25 million next year.
The expectation is that Garrett will want an extension with whatever team acquires him in a trade, assuming it's a contender. The Las Vegas Raiders signed their own star defensive end , Maxx Crosby , to a new three-year extension worth $35.5 million in average annual value, the highest for any non-quarterback in the league.
On Thursday, the Cincinnati Bengals granted defensive end Trey Hendrickson the right to seek a trade. Hendrickson beat out Garrett for the 2024 sack title with 17.5, compared to 14 for Garrett.
Hendrickson, the Pittsburgh Steelers ' T.J. Watt and the Dallas Cowboys ' Micah Parsons are all star edge rushers who are closing in on new deals, as well as Garrett.
Garrett, 29, opened the door to the trade demand in December. Two days before the Browns played a Week 15 game at the Cincinnati Bengals , he made clear that he wasn't happy with the direction of the team during its 3-14 season.
At that point, Garrett made clear he wanted to see what Berry and the organization had planned to accelerate a return to playoff contention. If that wasn't good enough, then he was open to going somewhere else.
"I mean, it's a possibility, but I want to be a Cleveland Brown," Garrett said on Dec. 20, when asked if he could see himself not with the Browns. "I want to play here, play my career here. But if we choose to do a rebuild and it's two, three, four years out, I want be able to compete and play at a high level, play meaningful games and be playing past January."
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jimmy Haslam directs Myles Garrett to speak to Browns GM in dispute
