Myles Garrett Stayed in Cleveland-But What If He Hadn’t?
Heading into the 2025 season, one of the biggest questions hovering over the NFL wasn't about a quarterback or a coaching change-it was about Myles Garrett. Would he still be wearing orange and brown in Cleveland, or would one of the league’s most dominant defensive forces finally get the chance to chase a championship elsewhere?
Since being drafted first overall by the Browns back in 2017, Garrett has been nothing short of a game-wrecker. The numbers speak for themselves-double-digit sacks every year except his rookie season (and he still had seven that year).
He’s a four-time All-Pro, a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and a nightmare for offensive coordinators. When you talk about the league’s elite defenders, Garrett’s name belongs right alongside T.J.
Watt and Micah Parsons-if not above.
But for all his individual accolades, Garrett’s postseason résumé is light. Just two playoff appearances, and neither run made it past the divisional round.
That lack of team success reportedly led to a trade request before the 2025 season, with Garrett making it clear: he wanted to win. And in Cleveland, that hasn’t happened nearly enough.
There was a moment when it looked like he might be on the move. Buffalo fans, in particular, were dreaming big.
The idea of pairing Garrett with an already stacked Bills defense had the fanbase buzzing. A potential trade to Buffalo felt like the kind of move that could tilt the balance of power in the AFC.
But instead of forcing his way out, Garrett stayed put-inking a massive four-year, $160 million extension. That’s $40 million a year-quarterback money for a defensive end. It was a show of commitment from the Browns, both to Garrett and to the idea that they could still build a contender around him.
Fast forward to the present, and Cleveland’s season has once again fallen flat. The Browns haven’t lived up to expectations, and the playoff hopes are all but gone.
But Garrett? He’s been nothing short of sensational.
He’s now just one sack away from setting a new single-season sack record-a historic individual milestone in a year that’s otherwise been forgettable for the franchise.
It’s a bittersweet situation. Garrett continues to play at a generational level, but the team around him isn’t keeping pace. And you can’t help but wonder: what if he had landed somewhere else?
Imagine Garrett wreaking havoc on the edge in Buffalo. That defense, already one of the league’s best, could’ve reached another level entirely.
Pair him with the Bills’ front seven, and you’re talking about a unit that could dominate games in January. It’s the kind of move that might’ve made Buffalo nearly untouchable in the AFC.
But while that dream scenario never materialized, Bills fans can breathe a sigh of relief about where Garrett didn’t end up-Foxborough.
Kristopher Knox recently put together a list of players fans wish were on different teams in 2025. Garrett made the cut, and Knox floated a hypothetical that would send shivers down the spine of any Bills fan: Garrett in a Patriots uniform.
Knox pointed out that New England, under new head coach Mike Vrabel, has been aggressive in reshaping its roster. They brought in Milton Williams, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Stefon Diggs in free agency, and second-year quarterback Drake Maye has taken a major leap forward.
The Patriots are no longer rebuilding-they’re reloaded. Add Garrett to that mix, and suddenly the AFC East looks a whole lot more dangerous for Buffalo.
Thankfully for the Bills, that nightmare scenario didn’t come to pass. Garrett stayed in Cleveland, and while he’s still dominating, he’s doing it for a team that’s once again on the outside looking in.
Still, the question lingers: how long can one of the NFL’s most dominant defenders keep delivering elite production without the postseason platform to match? Garrett’s legacy is already impressive-but it could be legendary if he ever finds himself on a true contender.
For now, he remains in Cleveland, chasing records and carrying the load for a franchise still searching for consistency. But around the league, fans and front offices alike can’t help but wonder what could’ve been.