Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett has requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns .
The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year — Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett — has requested a trade following the team's 3-14 season.
Garrett released an exclusive statement about his desire to play elsewhere on Monday.
"My love for the community of Northeast Ohio and the incredible fanbase 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 I am today," Garrett writes . "While I've loved calling this 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."
Garrett is clearly referencing Browns general manager Andrew Berry, who recently said he envisioned Garrett retiring as a Cleveland Brown.
"My expectation is that he'll have a direct ticket from Cleveland to Canton at the end of this year," Berry said . "And I expect him to be here and retire a Brown, quite frankly."
However, that was followed up with many questioning Garrett's future with the team. Berry said he wasn't even interested in trading Garrett for two first-round picks.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reveals that has not changed.
"Cleveland has been made aware of Myles Garrett's trade request. The team's stance has not changed," Rapoport writes . "Teams, of course, will call on a superstar in his prime."
Garrett, 29, is coming off the seventh straight season of his NFL career with double-digit sacks and fourth straight with 14 or more. He has been named to six Pro Bowls and is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett tackling Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson onDec. 8, 2024 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Garrett signed a five-year, $125 million extension in 2020, which leaves two years left on the deal. His contract carries salary-cap hits of $19.7 million and $20.4 million in 2025 and 2026.
The Browns have been up and down throughout Garrett's eight-year NFL career, which began as the No. 1 overall pick in 2017. He went 0-16 as a rookie, helped lead Cleveland to its first playoff win since 1994 during the 2020 season, and then since, has had three losing seasons in the past four years.
The Browns' inability to find their next franchise quarterback has played a large part in their struggles. As a result, they may just lose one of the best players in all of football.
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