There is just one game remaining in the NFL season, so the offseason rumor mill has already fired up. On Monday morning, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett requested a trade after eight incredible seasons in Cleveland.
Every fan’s initial reaction is how their team can try and trade for the six-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer. There are only a select few teams in the league that are realistic, legitimate suitors for Garrett though.
The verdict is still out on just who those teams could be. A trade for Garrett would likely require a first-round pick and more, something that any team should be willing to fork over for a player of his caliber.
This is all if he does get truly traded, although the Browns have minimal leverage at this point. The Chargers could be a potential landing spot for Garrett though, and the fit makes sense for a few different reasons:
Money
Garrett signed a five-year, $125 million extension back in 2020, which is considered to be a steal of a contract for him nowadays. The veteran star has two years left on his contract, and not every team can afford his $20 million cap hit each of the next two seasons. The Chargers are one of the teams that could afford him, as they enter this offseason with over $63 million in cap space, the fifth-most in the NFL.
Positional need
The Chargers had one of the best pass rushes in the league in 2024 as their 46 sacks finished tied-for-sixth. Things may look a bit different in 2025 though. Khalil Mack had a phenomenal year but he is set to become a free agent and his future in Los Angeles is up in the air.
The same can be said for Joey Bosa, who is due for a cap hit of $36+ million in 2025. He becomes an obvious cap casualty, and that would logically have to take place in order for the Chargers to take on Garrett’s contract. There’s no doubt that the Chargers would be in need of a pass rusher and who better to go after than the 2023 AP Defensive Player of the Year.
Trajectory of franchise
Per his social media post(s), Garrett’s primary reason for the trade request was the desire to win a Super Bowl. The Browns won just one playoff game in his tenure, and things aren’t getting any better over there after a 3-14 season.
The Chargers went an impressive 11-6 this season and are a team that is trending upwards. Jim Harbaugh seems to be a coach that a lot of players would want to play for. Furthermore, this was the No. 1 defense in 2024 in its first season under coordinator Jesse Minter. Garrett would only elevate the defense even more and could turn this team into legitimate contenders.
