Over the past few months, Myles Garrett’s status with the Cleveland Browns has been a hot topic among fans and analysts alike. With the team struggling to find its footing in the AFC North for the past eight years, questions surrounding the future of one of the league’s premier pass rushers have become increasingly pertinent. Now, it seems, that moment of speculation has reached a critical juncture—Garrett has officially requested a trade from the Browns.
In an official statement released on Monday morning, Garrett made his intentions clear, leaving fans and teams to speculate about his next destination.
At just 29 years old, Garrett’s resume speaks volumes. He has earned first-team All-Pro honors four times over the past five years and boasts a Defensive Player of the Year award to his name. Given his extraordinary talent, the buzz surrounding his potential trade is certainly justified—any team in the league should be eager to make a call about acquiring him.
One team that stands out as a prime candidate to pursue Garrett is the Atlanta Falcons.
The Need for a Defensive Upgrade
The Falcons’ pass rush last season was notably lackluster, to say the least. The team’s defensive efforts often resembled a scene where opposing quarterbacks could not only withstand pressure but could almost leisurely prepare for their next move. Atlanta’s pass rush produced a mere 28.4 percent pressure rate on dropbacks, ranking them seventh-lowest across the league. Their total of 31 sacks placed them second to last—a stat that paints a stark picture of their defensive struggles.
Things only got better toward the end of the season, where a late surge brought their sack count up significantly. However, without that late-season push, the overall performance would have looked far worse. The Falcons recorded only 10 sacks in their first 11 games of the year, highlighting the need for an impactful presence on the edge.
Instead of continuing to build through the draft, acquiring a game-changing player like Garrett could be the catalyst that transforms Atlanta’s defense.
Draft Capital Considerations
Now, the question remains: can the Falcons pull off this monumental trade? The response is a hesitant yes—assuming they can navigate the complexities of the trade market effectively. The cost, of course, is going to be substantial. Browns GM Andrew Berry recently indicated that he would turn down offers of two first-round picks for Garrett, suggesting the asking price is steep.
That being said, there are murmurs that it might take a bit less than you’d expect. Reports indicate potential trade packages could involve a first-round pick and perhaps other selections or even a player. For example, one NFL general manager speculated that a reasonable offer for Garrett would include “probably a 1+” and hinted that there wouldn’t be an outlandish demand of three first-round picks.
The Falcons enter this conversation with a limited arsenal in the upcoming draft, holding just four picks for 2025: a first, a second, a fourth, and a seventh. However, Atlanta’s 2026 draft class looks more promising, with all their picks intact along with an additional late-round selection from the Chargers.
Shipping off their 2025 first-round pick would strain their immediate future, but in the realm of solidifying a necessary pass rush, it could be a negligible cost compared to the transformative potential Garrett brings.
In a landscape where building through the draft has often taken precedence, acquiring a player of Garrett’s caliber could indeed change the fortunes of a team that has spent recent years focusing on bolstering its offensive capabilities. For the Falcons, this trade opportunity represents not just a chance to remodel their defense, but an opportunity to reshape their identity within the division moving forward.
