The Dallas Cowboys need help at pass rusher. We all know this.
Myles Garrett is an amazing pass rusher. Maybe the best in the NFL. We all know this.
You can never count the Dallas Cowboys out of anything, particularly a rumor, in the NFL.
We all certainly know this.
Myles Garrett is suddenly less impossible for the Cowboys
Something interesting happened this week that flew a little bit under the radar. Blame it on Opening Day happening across the sports calendar, or the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 getting set to happen this weekend.
Or maybe blame the fact that it
had to do with the Cleveland Browns as they hardly move the national needle. Wherever you want to place responsibility, it was reported by ESPN late on Wednesday that the Browns applied some front office magic to the contract of Myles Garrett.
Here is the TL;DR thanks to our friends at Dawgs By Nature:
The two sides have agreed to move the date that Garrett will be paid his option bonus from the 15th day of the league year to a week before the regular season’s first game. That covers 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Garrett agreed to have $8 million of his base salary converted into a roster bonus in 2029 and 2030.
The change means that the Browns will have some additional flexibility to create cap space in each of the next five years.
Garrett will now get some of his money earlier in the year in 2029 and 2030.
The reason all of this is relevant to the Cowboys (and 30 other NFL teams) is the suspicion that has accompanied what the Browns did as one takeaway from these flicks of the pen is that Garrett is suddenly more trade-able from a contract standpoint.
What could Dallas even give up for Myles Garrett?
Part of the reason that the Cowboys make sense for a hypothetical Myles Garrett trade is that they were in the mix for the last pass rusher who was on the trade market in Maxx Crosby. That obviously did not happen, but the fact that the Cowboys were willing to part with serious assets shows that they may be willing to do so here.
Earlier this week ESPN also reported what the Cowboys offered (there were 3 different offers as talks progressed) before the Raiders made a deal for Crosby with the Ravens (that was obviously rescinded).
According to ESPN the Cowboys offered:
- Initially: Their second first-round pick (20 overall) and Osa Odighizuwa
- And then: Their higher first-round pick (12 overall) and a third-round pick
- Ultimately: Number 12 overall and a second-round pick
Now obviously Osa Odighizuwa was since dealt away to the San Francisco 49ers which netted the Cowboys a third-round pick this year (number 92 overall). In total the Cowboys have 8 picks at the moment for this year’s draft.
2026 Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks:
- 1: 12 overall
- 1: 20 overall (from Packers)
- 3: 92 overall (from 49ers)
- 4: 112 overall
- 5: 152 overall
- 5: 177 overall [comp pick]
- 5: 180 overall [comp pick]
- 7: 218 overall (from Titans)
It would stand to reason that any trade for Garrett would have to involve both first-round picks this year and likely future capital as well. It should be noted that Dallas cannot technically trade either of their first-round picks next year as the better of them (which is a matter that is to be determined) belongs to the New York Jets by way of the Quinnen Williams trade, but they could do something like a second-round pick that becomes a first-round pick if a condition is met, and it would obviously be a slam-dunk condition to appease the hypothetical trade.
Even something like 3 first-round picks feels low given Garrett’s career accomplishments, but it makes sense that the conversation would start there. A move like this would be a true all-in proposition from the Cowboys and despite the national narrative that surrounds them we haven’t really seen them do anything like that in some time.
For what it’s worth… Garrett has a unique history with the Cowboys. You will recall that he literally begged them to draft him ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft where Cleveland took him number one overall. He even noted that the Cowboys could use Tony Romo (who would soon retire) as a trade piece to try and get him.
“I’m speaking to you, Jerry,” Garrett says on the video. “Mr. [Jason] Garrett, make it happen. 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, please. I’d love to play in Dallas. Let’s make it happen.”
Maybe it will happen. Maybe it won’t.
Around and around we go.
