Yahoo Sports Browns GM Andrew Berry wants Myles Garrett as a 'piece of our future,' not open to trading reigning NFL DPOY
Garrett has two years remaining on a five-year, $120 million extension he signed in 2020
As reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett enters the final two seasons of his contract, the Cleveland Browns aren't thinking of moving on from the veteran pass rusher — not even in exchange for a rich bounty of draft picks.
Speaking to Browns reporters at the Senior Bowl, general manager Andrew Berry said he's not looking to trade Garrett and that a contract extension is what the organization is after when it comes to the four-time Pro Bowler.
When posed the scenario where he's approached and offered a deal that includes two first-round draft picks for the 29-year-old Garrett, Berry said he wouldn't be interested.
“You can put that on the record," Berry said.
Garrett, a finalist for DPOY for the second consecutive season, was second in the NFL with 14 sacks and became the first player in NFL history with 14 or more sacks in four straight seasons. He holds the Browns' franchise record with 102.5 career sacks.
Garrett is scheduled to carry salary cap hits of $19.7 million and $20.4 million over the next two years, according to Over the Cap, with no guaranteed salary in those seasons. Toward the end of the regular season, he said he was not looking to be part of a rebuild and in conversations with Berry he asked the GM how he plans to "make the most of all the talent that is here," adding he feels the Browns are "closer" than many believe.
The 2017 No. 1 overall draft pick, Garrett has spent his entire career in Cleveland and signed a five-year, $125 million extension in 2020, re-upping his commitment to the team.
The Browns have turned in two winning seasons and played three playoff games since drafting Garrett. After going 11-6 in 2023, they went 3-14 in 2024 and will have the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. There are holes to be filled and as Garrett wants to see results trend in a better direction, Berry is hoping he's a key piece of the turnaround.
“We always have a really good and direct two-way communication with our players,” Berry said. “We feel really good about Myles obviously as a big piece of our future. We’re looking forward to him being on the field. Like I said in my [post wild-card round loss] press conference, we envision him going from Cleveland to Canton when his career is over.”
