Back in March, the Cleveland Browns and DE Myles Garrett agreed to a restructured contract that raised flags for everyone that a trade could happen after June 1st. Most downplayed that possibility as just talk, saying the move was actually just GM Andrew Berry doing what his mentor, Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman, does with big contracts.
On top of that, the Browns put forth a proposal to allow draft picks five years out to be traded, only to find out the NFL had no interest in that idea, but
that proposal hinted at the coming trade.
We all know the rest of the story.
Garrett is now with the Los Angeles Rams, preparing to play the first-ever NFL game in Australia. Garrett could have been preparing for the Buffalo Bills season opener if things had gone a little differently. According to Tom Pelissero’s new notebook on Substack, the Bills were the other suitor to call the Browns on the day the Rams trade was made:
But sources say another team called Cleveland on the day the trade leaked: The Bills, who had checked in periodically on Garrett’s availability for the better part of two years.
Pelissero noted that there was no chance for Buffalo to match Los Angeles’ offer because they did not have a Jared Verse-level player to add to the deal. As noted by the Browns GM, Verse was the key to the deal from the Cleveland side.
It is likely that the Bills would have offered a more pick-heavy package for Garrett, given that they didn’t have a top young player to add to the deal.
Would you have rather have received three first-round picks and a second (an assumed package) from the Bills or the package the Browns got from the Rams for Garrett?
