The Pittsburgh Steelers have usually been near the top of the AFC North. The franchise just captured its first division title since the 2020 season, and that felt like an extremely long drought. However, the long drought does not compare to what the Cleveland Browns are going through as the franchise has not won the division once since it was formed back in 2002. Cleveland has been the laughing stock of NFL as a whole, for the better part of the last 20+ years. Despite the lack of team success the organization has had some all-time great players, including defensive end Myles Garrett.
John Kuntz / Cleveland.com
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett celebrates a sack on Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson during a game in the 2024 NFL season.
Garrett has been a nuisance to Pittsburgh fans ever since he was drafted first overall back in 2017. He and TJ Watt came into the league in the same year, and the two have been positional and divisional rivals ever since. Garrett also had an incident in a game against the Steelers where he ripped off Mason Rudolph's helmet and hit him over the head with it, which resulted in Garrett being suspended for the rest of the season. This contributed to the dislike of Garrett from the Pittsburgh fan base, but Garrett might be moving divisions before the start of the 2026 season.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year modified his contract near the end of March, and it seemingly opened up the door for his contract to be traded. Two beat writers covering Cleveland for The Athletic, Zac Jackson and Jason Lloyd, recently spoke in a piece about the Garrett situation, and the two made it seem as though a trade is certainly on the table.
"My stance hasn’t really changed," Lloyd wrote. "I don’t think they’re going to trade him, but I think they should. And I absolutely believe this restructure was to give them the flexibility to do so. One question no one has really answered: Why did Myles agree to this? Most guys like their money sooner rather than later, which is why players love the Browns’ strategy of turning base salary into signing bonuses."
When Cleveland and Garrett agreed to modify his contract, the major changes were that the date that bonuses were going to be paid out was changed from the start of the new league year to right before the regular season kicked off. This essentially made Garrett have to wait for his money, and although he is well off financially, it is a weird thing to agree to if he is not getting anything out of it.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers evades Myles Garrett during a win over the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium during the 2025 season.
It is a bizarre move for Garrett to agree to, and it would really only make sense if he were going to be traded to a team with a better chance to win during the 2026 offseason. This would certainly get him out of the AFC North, and the Steelers would no longer have to deal with him twice a season. Jackson also agreed that a trade could be on the table.
"It’s pretty obvious that the payment delay keeps the door open," Jackson wrote. "Perhaps both sides agreed that going public last time didn’t benefit anyone. Maybe some all-in team told the Browns that a true Godfather offer was in the works. Maybe — I guess — the Browns just really don’t know how the next two to five months will go and wanted to keep all options open, and Garrett was willing to communicate and cooperate just in case."
During the 2025 offseason, Garrett publicly requested a trade, but he wound up signing an extension with Cleveland. He was ridiculed for this move by NFL fans, and now a trade could be getting orchestrated behind the scenes. It would make sense for a franchise like the Browns that does not have a bright future in the slightest.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Steelers' TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith and company stand on the field during Friday Night Lights.
Steelers Have Their Own Edge Rushers To Worry About
Pittsburgh extended Watt ahead of the 2025 season, and Alex Highsmith is also under contract for two more seasons. They are the two clear starters on the defense, while Nick Herbig has also made the most of his opportunities and proven that he deserves to be on the field more often. He is also eligible for an extension, which puts Pittsburgh in a rough spot. Trading one of the top two guys seems like the smart move, but it is unlikely to happen.
What do you think the chances are that Garrett gets dealt? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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