The Washington Commanders need to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. And one of the premier edge rushers anywhere in the league could be available in the not-too-distant future.
Myles Garrett shook the NFL to its foundations by officially handing in a trade request. Whether the Cleveland Browns entertain the notion remains to be seen, but this development is unlikely to go unnoticed by Washington's aggressive general manager Adam Peters.
Garrett even went as far as to release a statement, which was akin to a formal goodbye. The former No. 1 overall selection outlined his desire to compete for a Super Bowl, which the Browns have been and are unlikely to provide for the foreseeable future.
"As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl -- and that goal fuels me today more than ever. My love for the community of Northeast Ohio and the incredible fanbase of the Cleveland Browns has made this one of the toughest decisions of my life. These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today. While I've loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won't allow me to be complacent. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl. With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns."Myles Garrett via NFL.com
The Commanders should inquire about what it would potentially take to secure Garrett's services. They should do that immediately.
Commanders should call the Brown after Myles Garrett's trade request
After all, their Super Bowl window is officially open.
Prolific pass-rushers like Garrett don't grow on trees. He's one of the most dominant players in the league (at any position) and is a future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. This would solve a significant need for the Commanders, who lacked a genuine game-wrecker on their defensive front during their remarkable run to the NFC Championship game in 2024.
Washington's No. 29 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft is expendable if a prominent veteran can be acquired via trade. Peters is a shrewd talent evaluator, but he's not going to find a player anything close to Garrett with the pick. That's almost impossible.
It'll take more than one first-rounder. Perhaps not much more — a second-round pick, a couple of thirds, or throw in a player like Jonathan Allen or Dorance Armstrong Jr. That's what negotiations are for, to get a better lay of the land.
Peters isn't afraid to make bold trades. He was part of the San Francisco 49ers brain trust that took Trent Williams from Washington and secured All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. The front-office leader also acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints before the 2024 deadline.
That didn't quite go according to plan thanks to a troubling hamstring injury, but the Commanders aren't giving up on the transaction just yet. If Peters believes it's the right thing to do, he'll target Garrett and do whatever it takes to bring him into the fold.
It would be a bombshell of epic proportions if the Browns accepted this request and traded Garrett to the highest bidder. He's still under contract until 2027, so they hold the cards for now.
Then again, everyone has a price. And the Commanders would be wise to find out exactly what that is.
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