ESPN insiders have suggested that, despite Garrett setting an NFL single-season sack record in 2025, the Browns are not pursuing a trade and may instead consider another contract adjustment or extension for Garrett. The public stance from the organization and Garrett’s camp has consistently emphasized Garrett as a core, longtime Brown, making a trade unlikely in the near term.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry has repeatedly downplayed trade talk, describing it as a waste of breath while reaffirming Garrett’s status as a face of the franchise. Berry emphasized that Garrett is a career-long Brown and reiterated the team’s desire to keep him in Cleveland, even amid offseason contract chatter.
Analysis around the team’s strategy suggests the release of trade speculation could have been motivated by leverage or practicality in future negotiations. While there is no imminent move to deal Garrett, the relocation of financial terms indicates the Browns may be prepared to revisit the contract to align with performance and value, should conditions change.
Garrett’s market value remains substantial, with evaluators noting his recent sack achievements and overall impact as a premier edge defender. Still, the Browns’ public position has been clear: they are not trading Garrett, and any future discussions are likely to center on contract adjustments rather than a blockbuster roster shakeup.
As the offseason progresses, all eyes will remain on how the Browns balance Garrett’s lucrative contract with the team’s broader goal of building a competitive, title-contending roster. The prevailing view is that Cleveland intends to keep Garrett in the fold, even as negotiations continue behind the scenes.
