Myles Garrett’s Record-Breaking Season Could Be His Last Dance in Cleveland
Myles Garrett is on the verge of making NFL history - and he’s doing it with the kind of week-in, week-out dominance that’s impossible to ignore. As the Browns head into their Week 14 matchup against the Titans, Garrett is within striking distance of the league’s single-season sack record. And given who he’s facing, the timing couldn’t be better.
Tennessee has surrendered 48 sacks through 12 games - the most in the NFL - and that leaky offensive line is exactly the kind of matchup Garrett has feasted on all year. He’s recorded at least one sack in six straight games, including a jaw-dropping five-sack performance in Week 8 against rookie Drake Maye and the Patriots.
Just two weeks later, he racked up four more against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. This isn’t just a hot streak - it’s a historic run.
But while Garrett’s numbers scream dominance, the Browns’ record tells a different story. Cleveland enters Week 14 at 3-9, with a minus-76 point differential. And that disconnect - between Garrett’s greatness and the team’s struggles - is becoming harder to ignore.
Garrett, who’s already a Defensive Player of the Year and likely on his way to a second, made waves this past offseason when he requested a trade. The Browns didn’t grant it.
Instead, they doubled down, handing him a $160 million extension that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history on a per-year basis at the time. It was a clear message: Garrett isn’t just a star - he’s the franchise cornerstone.
But even cornerstones get restless. And Garrett, who turns 30 later this month, has made it clear he wants to win now.
He’s played in just three playoff games over nine seasons in Cleveland. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player who’s now being mentioned in the same breath as Lawrence Taylor.
The frustration isn’t new. Back in February, Garrett used his Super Bowl media appearances to express his desire for a fresh start - a place where winning wasn’t a distant hope but a real expectation.
The Browns, coming off a three-win season, weren’t ready to move on. But with another losing campaign nearly in the books and ownership reportedly considering a full regime change, the landscape could shift quickly.
General Manager Andrew Berry didn’t bite on trade talks last offseason. But if the Browns are heading toward another rebuild - especially without a clear answer at quarterback - the idea of cashing in on Garrett’s value might not be so far-fetched this time around.
And make no mistake: Garrett’s value has never been higher. He’s not just playing like the best pass rusher in the league - he’s playing like one of the best defensive players ever.
His speed, power, and instincts are all peaking at once. He looks faster than he did five years ago, and his ability to wreck a game plan is unmatched.
NFL insiders are already floating his name as a potential surprise trade candidate in 2026. Why?
Because his new contract - while massive - is surprisingly tradable. He’s guaranteed around $62 million over the next two years, and for a team in win-now mode, that’s a bargain for a player of his caliber.
The Browns, meanwhile, would take on about $41 million in dead cap if they moved him - a heavy hit, but not unprecedented. The Broncos ate more when they cut Russell Wilson, and they’ve gone 20-10 since.
If Cleveland decides to go that route, the return could be massive. Look no further than the Micah Parsons trade this past summer, when the Cowboys sent him to Green Bay for Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks.
Garrett could command a similar haul - or even more. He’s that good.
But here’s the thing: records and accolades are great, but legacy is built in January and February. Lawrence Taylor has two rings.
Garrett? He’s still chasing his first.
And with the Browns seemingly stuck in neutral, it’s fair to wonder whether Cleveland can give him the stage he deserves.
So as Garrett closes in on the sack record, Browns fans are left with a bittersweet reality. They’re watching one of the most dominant defensive seasons in NFL history unfold in real time - and it might be the last time they see No. 95 in a Cleveland uniform.
If this is the end of the road for Garrett in Cleveland, he’s not going quietly. He’s rewriting the record books, one quarterback at a time.
And whether it’s in orange and brown or elsewhere, he’s made it clear: he wants to win. Now.