HEADLINES

Ravens Open RB Keaton Mitchell’s Practice Window

October 23rd, 2024 at 11:33am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Ravens’ league-leading rushing attack seems like it could not get any better, but Baltimore has some additional backfield help on the way with Keaton Mitchell expected to open his 21-day practice window this week, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. This is now official.

Mitchell suffered a torn ACL in his left knee last December, ending his 2023 season and landing him on the reserve/PUP list to begin this year. Before his injury, he broke out as an electrifying undrafted rookie running back with 8.4 yards per carry across eight games and 47 rushing attempts.

Mitchell was a consistent presence on the sidelines during Ravens training camp while he was in the early stages of his rehab, and more recently participated in a workout on a side field during practice. Now, he’ll be able to ramp up his participation and gradually integrate into the Ravens backfield rotation.

Baltimore has an ideal situation for Mitchell’s recovery, with Derrick Henry firmly established as the lead back and Justice Hill filling third-down duties. Mitchell will not need to assume a major role in the offense and can work as a change-of-pace back as he ramps back up to full strength.

The Ravens will want to avoid any setbacks like they faced with J.K. Dobbins in 2022 after he recovered from an torn ACL the year before. Dobbins required an additional clean-up surgery during the 2022 season and did not regain his breakaway speed until the following year.

If Mitchell is able to bring even a fraction of his 2023 explosiveness to the Ravens this season, their run game could hit another level, even though the Baltimore ground attack’s 6.2 yards per attempt and 210.9 yards per game already lead the NFL by significant margins.

Seahawks, Titans Agree To Swap LBs Jerome Baker, Ernest Jones

October 23rd, 2024 at 11:30am CST by Sam Robinson

Ernest Jones is heading back to the NFC West, being involved in a second trade this year. The Titans and Seahawks have a linebacker-for-linebacker swap lined up, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.

The Seahawks are sending Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick to the Titans for Jones, who was originally dealt from the Rams to the Titans in August. The contract-year linebacker will head back to the Pacific Time Zone to finish up his free agency audition. It’s a 2025 fourth, per Brady Henderson of ESPN.com.

This marks the second Titans seller’s trade of the day, with the move coming hours after the team agreed to send DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs. This checks in as a slightly lower-profile deal, but Tennessee secured a better return for Jones compared to Hopkins. Collecting a conditional fifth-round pick for the former All-Pro receiver, the Titans now have Baker and a fourth coming back. Like Jones, Baker is in a contract year.

As the Rams informed Jones this offseason would not be extended in 2024, his camp received permission to negotiate a trade. While Jones had said he did not request a trade out of Los Angeles, the Rams agreed to one in short order. L.A. collected a fifth-round pick for Jones and a sixth. Despite the season being nearly half over, the Titans did better in their Jones return.

Overall, Tennessee did quite well in the two Jones trades. The team gave up only a 2026 fifth-round pick but has obtained Baker, a 2025 fourth-rounder and a 2026 sixth in exchange. The Seahawks will bet on the younger linebacker while the Titans retool.

A former Rams starter who played a role for the Super Bowl LVI team before being highly productive from 2022-23, Jones has started five games with the Titans. He leaves Tennessee with 44 tackles (second on the team) with three TFLs and two pass deflections. Jones, who briefly teamed with UFA addition Kenneth Murray in Tennessee, led the 2023 Rams in tackles with 145 — to go with 4.5 sacks and 14 TFLs. This came after Jones teamed with Bobby Wagner as a starter in 2022.

The Seahawks had used free agency to staff their LB position, though they did not make the kind of commitment there the Titans did via their three-year Murray pact. Seattle signed Baker and Tyrel Dodson, bringing in the former as a street free agent following his Dolphins release. Baker’s second 2024 relocation will come after he started all five games he played with Seattle. Baker made 30 tackles (two for loss) and forced a fumble during his brief Seahawks stint.

Pro Football Focus has Baker and Jones ranked alongside each other among off-ball ‘backers this season, placing Baker 46th and Jones 47th. PFF has Baker rated as a superior coverage linebacker, though Jones checked in as a top-15 overall option at LB in 2023. He will now have a chance to use the Seahawks as a springboard to a nice 2025 payday.

Baker being nearly three years older explains the compensation in this trade. Baker will turn 28 on Christmas Day; Jones will be 25 next month. The Seahawks hold exclusive negotiating rights with their newly acquired defender until the March legal tampering period.

In Miami, Baker worked as a hybrid player of sorts. He showed the type of blitz acumen that has boosted the profiles of Demario Davis and Devin White. The former third-round pick notched 22.5 sacks in six Dolphins seasons, topping out at seven under Brian Flores in 2020. Baker did not assimilate as easily into Vic Fangio‘s defense last season, but he will now go from one ex-Raven assistant’s scheme to another by moving from Mike Macdonald‘s defense to Dennard Wilson‘s.

While Jones is tied his third-round contract, Baker is attached to a one-year deal worth $7MM. The Seahawks, however, already paid Baker a $4MM roster bonus; he is due barely $1MM in prorated base salary. As Baker joins Murray on a 1-5 Tennessee team, Jones will team with Dodson as a pair of contract-year LBs for a 4-3 Seattle team.

Panthers Designate Adam Thielen, Jordan Fuller To Return From IR; D.J. Wonnum In PUP-Return Window

October 23rd, 2024 at 11:10am CST by Sam Robinson

As the Panthers head toward another deadline as a likely seller, they will have some of their veteran pieces on the way back to action. Two Carolina cogs are in the IR-return window, while D.J. Wonnum is practicing after an extensive stay on the PUP list.

Wonnum, who suffered a quad tear late last season, is practicing for the first time in 2024. The Panthers have started the edge rusher’s 21-day activation clock. Ditto Adam Thielen and Jordan Fuller, who are back at practice after IR stays. While Thielen and Fuller are not yet on the active roster, it appears they will be again soon.

The Panthers have delivered another poor start, with the Dave Canales-Dan Morgan era already including a benching of Bryce Young. But the team figures to have some reinforcements soon. For Thielen, a return could be notable should the Panthers decide to go into fire-sale mode. Diontae Johnson has come up in trade rumors; at 34, Thielen would make sense as a trade candidate as well, especially with a hot receiver trade market.

Fuller is playing on a one-year deal in Carolina, but he did not stand out in the Panthers defense before his injury, so he’s unlikely to garner major trade interest. Instead, he’ll slot back into the starting lineup where Nick Scott has started the last four games in Fuller’s absence.

Wonnum can practice for up to three weeks before he has to be added to the active roster or reverts to season-ending injured reserve. He won’t be on the trade block since teams cannot evaluate his play this year, but his return may allow the Panthers to consider trading Jadeveon Clowney to a contender in need of pass rush help.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.

Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin To Undergo Ankle Surgery

October 23rd, 2024 at 10:56am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 23: Godwin will undergo surgery today to repair his dislocated ankle, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. While the veteran receiver is not expected to return this season, a playoff run by the Buccaneers could give Godwin an outside chance at playing after his recovery.

OCTOBER 22: Chris Godwin‘s recovery process will begin soon. The Buccaneers wideout is scheduled to undergo ankle surgery this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Godwin was injured in the final minute of Tampa Bay’s loss on Monday, and after the game head coach Todd Bowles indicated the team’s fear that a dislocated ankle had been suffered. Evaluation will take place today to determine the full extent of the damage, per Rapoport, whose report does indeed deem Godwin’s injury to be a dislocation. He is not expected to return this season.

Bowles has since said Godwin is “probably” out for the year, though the third-year Bucs HC added (via Fox Sports’ Greg Auman) a return late in the playoffs — should the team be left standing by that point — is not out of the question entirely.

While Godwin is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2025 campaign, his situation marks a major blow to Tampa Bay’s offense. Especially in the event Mike Evans – whose hamstring injury forced him to leave last night’s contest early – misses considerable time, Godwin would have been in line to handle a heavy workload moving forward. The 28-year-old sits second in the NFL in receiving yards (576), an illustration of how impactful he is for the Bucs and how his 2024 campaign was shaping up.

Now, Godwin’s attention will turn to rehab in advance of a trip free agency. The Pro Bowler’s value was set to reach a notable height if his production had continued through the rest of the season, but his health status will now be a factor which could hinder his market. Shortly after being franchise-tagged for a second straight year in 2022, he inked a three-year, $60MM pact. That deal carried risk given the ACL tear he had suffered the previous season, but the Penn State product managed to top 1,000 yards in 2022 and ’23. After being well on his way to reaching that for a fifth year (and fourth in a row), his future is uncertain.

To little surprise (based on how the Buccaneers have operated with respect to many of their top players), it was reported in the spring no extension talks have taken place with Godwin. That will no doubt remain the case now given his injury, although he could of course remain firmly in the team’s plans for 2025 and beyond. With Godwin out of the picture – and, potentially, Evans as well – it will be interesting to see if the 4-3 Bucs are active ahead of the trade deadline in terms of pursuing a wideout addition.

Colts Designate DT DeForest Buckner For Return

October 23rd, 2024 at 10:48am CST by Sam Robinson

Displaying optimal durability during his first four Colts seasons, DeForest Buckner ran into his first roadblock this year. An ankle injury sidelined the Pro Bowl defensive tackle in Week 2, but Indianapolis is poised to have its top D-lineman back soon.

Buckner has completed a key step en route back to the field; the Colts designated him for return Wednesday. Buckner now has 21 days to be activated. Shane Steichen was optimistic Buckner and Jonathan Taylor would be back, so it would surprise if the Colts waited another week to activate Buckner. Taylor is not on IR but has missed three games with a high ankle sprain.

The Colts earmarked IR returns for Samson Ebukam and Cameron McGrone, designating both for return before setting their 53-man roster. Those moves already count toward Indianapolis’ eight injury activations. Buckner being moved back to the 53-man roster will leave Indy with five activations, but his comeback will be vital for a defense that ranks 29th in yardage and 31st against the run.

A Pro Bowler in 2021 and ’23 and a first-team All-Pro in his 2020 Colts debut, Buckner had missed just one game as a Colt prior to his September ankle injury. He and Grover Stewart operated as one of the most reliable DT tandems in recent NFL history, with Stewart’s start streak stretching to five years before an injury stalled it last season. Buckner figures to be back working with Stewart soon.

Buckner, 30, signed a near-fully guaranteed extension this offseason. His reliability certainly played a central role in the Colts authorizing that two-year, $46MM deal. The former 49ers first-rounder totaled 32.5 sacks from 2020-23, remaining one of the game’s best interior D-linemen. With Ebukam out, the Colts will be eager for Buckner to reprise his role as their pass rush anchor. It does not appear they will be waiting much longer.

Bears G Nate Davis, RB Khalil Herbert Receiving Trade Interest

October 23rd, 2024 at 10:16am CST by Sam Robinson

Entering the 2023 free agency period with the most cap space, the Bears added a few starters. Linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards remain locked-in starters, but the other major piece Chicago added last year has not panned out.

Nate Davis did not impress in his first season with the team, and Chicago benched the former Tennessee starter early this season. Still, Davis started for four years with the Titans and may have a bit of value left in a possible trade. Teams have looked into the sixth-year veteran, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adding the Bears are open to moving him.

Matt Pryor replaced Davis in the Bears’ Week 3 starting lineup, and while the former Derrick Henry inside blocker played most of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 4, he has returned to a reserve role. This is not optimal for a player on a three-year, $30MM contract. Davis is due more than $5.5MM in base salary. Given his Chicago trajectory, the team will need to pay down much of that to move on for a draft choice. A pick-swap deal along the lines of what the Bears fetched for Chase Claypool last year could be relevant here, though injury situations could prompt a team to give up a bit more for a player who had proven himself to be a solid starter in Tennessee.

Davis has 67 starts on his resume; 54 of those came with the Titans. As referenced in PFR’s 2023 free agent rankings, Davis ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 14 run-blocking guard from 2020-22 and also slotted in the top 25 in ESPN’s pass block win rate metric in his Titans finale. Football Outsiders charged Davis with allowing an alarming eight sacks in 2022, however, and ESPN classified him as below average in run block win rate. Davis graded as PFF’s No. 58 overall guard last season and ranks 63rd this year.

The Bears, who have Teven Jenkins in a contract year, have been expected to cut Davis in 2025 — if they are unable to find a trade partner now. Chicago has Pryor and Ryan Bates as RG options, though Bates — a player Chicago signed to an RFA offer sheet in 2022 and then acquired via trade this year — has been on IR since mid-September. The Bears also have some tackle depth in Larry Borom, previously mentioned as a trade chip, and rookie third-rounder Kiran Amegadjie. Though, it would be hard to see the team move both Davis and one of its tackles.

Additionally, teams have shown interest in Khalil Herbert, Rapoport mentions. A player who helped the Bears lead the NFL in rushing in 2022, Herbert has been the odd man out this season. Chicago signed D’Andre Swift and has used 2023 draftee Roschon Johnson as his backup. Herbert has logged just eight carries for 16 yards this season. The former sixth-round pick amassed 731 yards in 2022 and 611 in 2023, averaging at least 4.6 yards per carry in each slate. He hit 5.7 per tote in 2022, undoubtedly generating intrigue despite his tumble down Chicago’s depth chart that included roster-bubble status entering training camp.

The Bears are also looking into trading defensive lineman Dominique Robinson, Fowler adds. Robinson started seven games as a rookie and played in 11 as a reserve last season, but the Bears now have Montez Sweat anchoring their pass rush. The team also traded for Darrell Taylor late this summer. A fifth-round pick under contract through 2025, Robinson has not played this season.

In acquiring Claypool and Sweat over the past two seasons, GM Ryan Poles was unafraid to make buyer’s trades from a seller’s position. With the Bears currently 4-2 in a historically competitive NFC North, it will be interesting to see if the third-year front office boss considers selling some ancillary pieces to bolster future draft arsenals.

Rams Calling Teams On Cooper Kupp

October 22nd, 2024 at 9:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams have been waiting on the returns of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, playing most of the season without Matthew Stafford‘s top weapons. Kupp is expected back in Week 8, but trade rumors surrounding the former first-team All-Pro are gaining steam.

Ahead of the Rams’ Thursday matchup with the Vikings, they have received trade inquiries. It was not known if Los Angeles was prepared to entertain offers for Kupp, but it turns out this could be a live market. The Rams are now calling teams on the former Super Bowl MVP, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue, Dianna Russini and Mike Silver report. L.A. has called multiple teams on Kupp.

Kupp is tied to a lofty three-year, $80.1MM extension — one agreed to during an offseason in which the Rams also paid Stafford and Aaron Donald — but The Athletic reports the team is willing to pay some of Kupp’s remaining salary, as the goal in a potential swap will be a second-round pick. Kupp’s contract runs through 2026. The Rams owe Kupp $5MM guaranteed in 2025, though his ’25 base is only $12.5MM. It would cost the Rams more than $25MM in dead money to move on, but the bulk of that sum would be absorbed in 2025.

This would be a seismic move from a Rams team that has generally been on the buyer’s side of in-season trades during Sean McVay‘s tenure. It would also leave Stafford in limbo, given the close connection he has formed with Kupp and the team having lost Donald to retirement this offseason.

Just less than $9MM remains on Kupp’s 2024 base salary. Kupp has not lived up to his third Rams contract, going down with injuries in each of the past three years. That would stand to diminish his trade value, but the Rams should have a market if they are truly willing to part with the 31-year-old WR talent.

Three years ago, the Rams sent the Broncos second- and third-round picks for Von Miller, who was rehabbing a minor injury at the time, and saw him join Donald, Stafford, Kupp and Co. to help produce a Super Bowl title. Denver paid almost all of Miller’s remaining 2021 salary to boost trade compensation. Now, the Rams — despite having beaten the Raiders en route to a 2-4 mark achieved largely without Kupp and Nacua — appear prepared to move into a seller’s position.

That year, Stafford and Kupp formed an immediate connection that powered one of the greatest season by a wide receiver in NFL history. Kupp completed the rare triple-crown effort by leading the league with 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdown catches. Kupp continued his brilliance in the playoffs, adding 33 more catches, 478 yards and six touchdowns — including the Super Bowl LVI game-winner — to the Rams’ championship effort. Kupp’s reliability saved a team that had lost WR2 Odell Beckham Jr. in the first half, with the in-season addition going down weeks after Robert Woods was lost for the season.

Despite the Rams having paid Kupp and Woods in 2020, another deal for the ascending slot target commenced. Kupp, however, has missed 18 games since signing that extension. Ankle trouble slowed him in 2022, ending a season that also saw Stafford and Donald go down during a woeful Super Bowl title defense. Kupp began last season late due to nagging hamstring issues but did return to play 12 games alongside Nacua. With more ankle trouble plaguing Kupp this year, the Rams look to be gauging the market.

This marks a change from last season, when the Rams received calls on Kupp, Stafford and Donald but did not shop any of the cornerstones. Donald retired at season’s end, and Stafford has been asked to operate his age-36 campaign without both his top receivers and tight end Tyler Higbee. Kupp stepped up for an injured Nacua in Week 1, totaling 14 catches for 110 yards in a loss to the Lions. He went down in Week 2, being part of an injury brigade that has limited the Rams significantly on offense. The Rams, however, have kept Kupp on their active roster — unlike Nacua, who has been on IR since mid-September.

Neither Davante Adams nor Amari Cooper has produced a season like the one Kupp delivered in 2021, but both the recently traded standouts have been healthier. Even if the Rams pay down most of Kupp’s remaining salary, landing a second-rounder for Kupp figures to be difficult due to his recent maladies. Kupp also has an ACL tear on his medical sheet, having gone down midway through the Rams’ first McVay-era Super Bowl season. The former third-round pick posted his first 1,000-yard slate a year later, leading to the Rams’ first extension for the Division I-FCS product.

It will be interesting to see if the Rams find a team that is willing to part with Day 2 compensation for Kupp. The Steelers have been shopping for a wideout for months, while the Saints also missed out on Adams. Clubs may not be too eager to deal with the Chiefs, given their threepeat pursuit, but Kansas City lost JuJu Smith-Schuster with a short-term injury and has been in the market since seeing Rashee Rice follow Marquise Brown in sustaining a season-ending injury. That said, NFC teams stand to be less concerned about arming the Chiefs compared to AFC franchises. It would surprise if the two-time reigning champs did not call (or were not contacted) on Kupp.

Saints Reach Extension With Alvin Kamara

October 22nd, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Saints and five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara are in agreement on a two-year, $24.5MM contract extension, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Kamara was under contract for one more year, but the Saints were not expected to carry his non-guaranteed $22.4MM salary in 2025. Kamara’s new deal will lower his cap hit in 2025 by $18MM, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, and keep him in New Orleans through the 2026 season, giving Kamara a chance at retiring a Saint.

More than $22MM of his new money is effectively fully guaranteed, according to Garafolo, though Kamara’s per-year average dropped from $15MM to $12.75MM from his first to his second extension. The former Sean Payton chess piece had agreed to a five-year, $75MM extension before the 2020 season; that contract had paid out its guarantees and resided as the longest-running active RB deal.

Kamara, 29, made his desire for a new deal clear over the summer when he left mandatory minicamp a day early, though he reported to training camp on time. He continued to negotiate with the Saints as the season approached, but the two sides appeared to be at an impasse in September, indicating that extension talks would continue in the offseason. The veteran running back even became the subject of trade rumors with New Orleans losing five straight games after opening the season 2-0.

Kamara’s extension will take him out of the trade market and solidify him as the Saints’ long-term running back, even as the team faces massive cap obstacles in the next few seasons. While other players like Marshon Lattimore may become too expensive to retain, New Orleans furthered its commitment to Kamara as the most proven and productive player on its offense — one in dire need of proven playmakers given the injuries at wide receiver.

The eight-year veteran was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft and received Pro Bowl nods in each of his first four seasons. That earned Kamara the five-year, $75MM payday in 2020; that deal established him as the second-highest-paid running back in the league behind Christian McCaffrey. Kamara’s new APY will drop him to third behind Jonathan Taylor, though he remains ahead of Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs. In terms of guarantees at signing, Kamara has managed to make his way toward that list’s ceiling as well. His $22MM at signing trails only McCaffrey and Barkley.

Kamara’s extension is somewhat of a surprise after negotiations with the Saints appeared to fizzle during the preseason, with both sides focusing on the 2024 season ahead of them. However, Kamara has been New Orleans’ most consistent offensive player this year as several other playmakers – including quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed – have dealt with injuries behind a rotating offensive line. Kamara’s 145 touches lead the league, and he is averaging one touchdown and just under 100 yards from scrimmage per game.

Kamara accepted a pay cut from his last contract with the Saints in exchange for full guarantees on almost 90% of his new money, continuing a league trend of decreasing running back contracts as players sacrifice total earning potential for more security with guaranteed money. The Tennessee alum has done very well for himself, even as RB value has stagnated in the modern NFL. The guarantees on this third Saints contract will bump him past $70MM in career earnings.

With the Saints committing to Kamara, other NFL teams will now turn their attention to players like Lattimore and Carl Granderson as potential trade targets as New Orleans — having dropped from 2-0 to 2-5 — potentially looks to shed contracts to clear up future cap space.

Jerry Jones Criticizes Cowboys’ Offensive Scheme

October 22nd, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Jerry Jones‘ frustration with the Cowboys’ offense boiled over into public criticism of the team’s scheme under head coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

“We’re designing bad plays, or we’re designing bad concepts,” Jones said, per Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS.

The Cowboys finished the 2023 season with the most points and fifth-most yards in the league. Their offense has taken a significant step back this year, ranking 20th in points per game (21.0) and 12th in yards per game (336.5), with an anemic running game producing just 77.2 rushing yards per game and two total touchdowns, both dead-last in the NFL. Dak Prescott is still fourth in the league with 267 passing yards per game, though his six interceptions are the third-most.

However, the Cowboys have not been efficient through the air or on the ground, ranking in the bottom 11 in both EPA/pass and EPA/rush, per NextGen Stats (subscription required). That has especially been an issue in the red zone, where Dallas has converted just six touchdowns on 16 total trips (37.5%), the second-lowest rate in the league.

McCarthy, of course, is the rare HC on a lame-duck contact. Jones cited the wild-card loss to the Packers as the reason why McCarthy is back without an extension. Bill Belichick rumors emerged at different points during the offseason, and this figures to be one of the teams the coaching legend-turned-omnipresent media figure monitors ahead of the 2025 coaching carousel.

The Cowboys declined to add high-level playmakers in free agency or the draft this offseason, re-signing Ezekiel Elliott instead of pursuing Derrick Henry, who leads the league in rushing for the Ravens. Jones was asked about Henry on 105.3 The Fan and shot down any ideas that the All-Pro could have helped the Cowboys’ offense.

“Derrick is having a career year. I don’t know if he’d be having a career year in our situation,” said Jones, via The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov. “We don’t run that type of offense at all.” Jones also blamed the salary cap for his inability to offer Henry a competitive contract, though his $8MM-per-year average was only the fifth-highest among running back free agent contracts signed this offseason.

Dallas most recently suffered a 47-9 embarrassment at the hands of the Lions, who held the Cowboys to just 251 total yards and a measly 3.9 yards per play while committing five turnovers. They travel to San Francisco in Week 8 to play the 49ers on Sunday, where a win will be paramount to keeping up with the Commanders and the Eagles in the NFC East.

Teams Calling Browns On Myles Garrett; Cleveland Unlikely To Move DE, CB Denzel Ward

October 22nd, 2024 at 9:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The edge rusher market lost Haason Reddick, who is finally on track to make his Jets debut thanks to a recent contract resolution. As teams are in need at the glamour defensive position, inquiries into two of the league’s best are already underway.

Although the Raiders have said they are not trading Maxx Crosby, the standout EDGE subsequently made some comments that could pry that door open. Crosby is tied to a 2-5 team. Myles Garrett has that beat, with the Browns having gone from an 11-6 season to starting 1-6. Garrett is signed through 2026, and teams are looking into the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.

Teams have begun asking the Browns if Garrett could be obtained in a trade, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes. Clubs certainly ask on players they do not expect to be made available, but cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports the Browns will not trade their centerpiece defender. Rumors swirled about Garrett’s potential availability last week, as the Browns did part with Amari Cooper, but Garrett has said he wants to finish his career in Cleveland. As it stands, the All-Pro defensive end does not need to worry about relocating.

Cleveland has Garrett tied to an extension that runs through 2026. The Browns did well to lock down the ascending defender on a five-year deal shortly after exercising his fifth-year option. That meant Garrett was under team control for seven more years. We are now in Year 5, and Garrett — who at the time was coming off his suspension stemming from the ugly incident that involved him striking Mason Rudolph with a helmet — has become one of the best players in Browns history. He is in the running for best player since the team rebooted — though, Joe Thomas probably holds that distinction currently — and rumblings about a second extension figure to emerge in 2025.

Garrett’s team-friendly contract would naturally appeal to suitors, but it also would make the price of acquiring him steep. The Browns would be out more than $40MM in dead money by trading Garrett now. Most of that sum could be defrayed to 2025, but the Browns are not exactly in a situation where taking on major dead money amounts will be palatable — given their quarterback situation.

A first-round pick and change would presumably be required for the Browns to consider moving on, as this is not a typical rebuild situation. Garrett still anchors a quality defense, one that led the league against the pass last season and helped it survive a slew of offensive injuries during a playoff campaign, and the Browns have a host of strong role players. Though, their QB plan has effectively overshadowed everything else about the roster.

The Browns have made the playoffs twice under Kevin Stefanski, whose two Coach of the Year showings came after he coached Baker Mayfield and Joe Flacco to bounce-back seasons. Deshaun Watson‘s contract and woeful performance has hindered the Browns, and the fourth-year HC is not yet committing to the embattled passer for the 2025 season. Still, the Browns are tied to Watson’s fully guaranteed deal. Although Cabot notes the Browns are likely to trade more players before the deadline, Garrett and Denzel Ward are not likely to be among them.

Both Garrett and Ward, the latter a Cleveland-area native, should be considered building blocks for when the franchise picks up the pieces from the Watson disaster. Ward is signed through 2027 on what had been — before the Patrick Surtain and Jalen Ramsey deals — a top-market cornerback contract. A John Dorsey-era draftee, Ward was nevertheless a priority under current FO boss Andrew Berry, who was on the Browns’ staff under Sashi Brown when the team drafted Garrett in 2017.

It would surprise if the Browns parted with either of their top two defenders, with Breer adding recently extended linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is unlikely to be dealt. Za’Darius Smith made the unusual step of mentioning a potential Lions trade, and Detroit is believed to be interested.

The Browns will likely be OK dealing some veterans, as they formulate a post-2024 plan as this year’s team almost definitely will not return to the playoffs. Garrett and Ward are undoubtedly part of that 2025-and-beyond vision.

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