Overview
- ESPN’s Field Yates reported Wednesday that Cleveland pushed Garrett’s 2026–2028 option-bonus deadlines to seven days before the regular season and shifted $8 million of his 2029 and 2030 base pay into early roster bonuses.
- Over The Cap said the tweak cuts a pre–June 1 trade’s dead-cap hit to about $41.09 million from roughly $70 million and splits a post–June 1 move into about $15.53 million in 2026 and $25.56 million in 2027, which would make any deal easier to account for on the books.
- The Browns told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday they are “100 percent definitely not trading” Garrett and said the change was for flexibility, not to shop their star.
- NFL Network added Friday that the team remains adamant he is not available, even as outlets laid out hypothetical landing spots and trade packages as speculation.
- Garrett has a no-trade clause and just set the single-season sack record with 23 in 2025, which boosts his leverage and means any real offer would need his approval and a massive return.