All-Professional defensive finish Myles Garrett desires a commerce out of Cleveland. The Inexperienced Bay Packers, a staff with cap area, a need to compete for championships and a necessity at edge rusher, appear like one of many preferrred matches if the Browns ultimately relent and resolve to commerce the longer term Corridor of Famer.
However the Packers are additionally a staff that traditionally avoids buying and selling precious draft capital for veteran gamers, and the compensation required to get Garrett might be immense.
There are apparent advantages but in addition loads of obstacles on this commerce from a Packers perspective.
Listed below are the potential execs and cons of the Packers pulling off a commerce for Garrett this offseason:
Professionals/Advantages
— Garrett is a generationally nice participant at a premium place. Modern-day Reggie White isn’t hyperbole. Garrett is a six-time All-Professional and the reigning NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months. He has created uncommon manufacturing as a rusher and exhibits no indicators of slowing down. This could be buying and selling for one of many 5-6 greatest gamers within the sport.
— The Packers have a reasonably large want at edge rusher regardless of the investments on the place in recent times. Buying and selling for Garrett wouldn’t solely present a game-wrecking participant but in addition fill a giant roster gap.
— The Packers see themselves as Tremendous Bowl contenders. Brian Gutekunst himself mentioned it’s time to start out “competing for championships.” His plan is coming into 12 months 3, and Garrett would offer an enormous piece of the Tremendous Bowl puzzle. When it comes to displaying urgency on this window, a commerce for Garrett can be as pressing a transfer because the Packers might make.
— The Packers have the cap area to make a giant splash. They may deal with buying and selling for Garrett’s present contract and signing him to a brand new one.
— Whereas Brian Gutekunst has pushed again towards buying and selling precious draft capital for veteran gamers, he additionally famous the Packers will make exceptions for uncommon gamers. And there may be precedent right here — Gutekunst and the Packers had been in on the Khalil Mack commerce in 2018 however simply barely misplaced out to the Bears.
— Garrett stays in his bodily prime regardless of being 29 years outdated. At PFF, Garrett has produced 4 straight seasons with general grades of 90.0 or increased. He produced 172 complete pressures over the past two seasons. And it’s definitely doable Garrett is one in every of these uncommon athletes like Corridor of Famer Reggie White, who was productive and an elite participant deep into his 30s.
— Signing Reggie White in 1993 helped the Packers win a title in 1996. Signing Charles Woodson in 2006 helped the Packers win a title in 2010. Gutekunst is properly conscious of the historical past in Inexperienced Bay, and the way Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson made the uncommon splash to get an ascending staff over the hump. Garrett might be his White/Woodson transfer.
Cons/Obstacles
— Substantial draft capital shall be required — seemingly a first-round choose this 12 months and presumably one other first-round choose and different picks in future years. Buying and selling for Garrett wouldn’t be low cost on the draft entrance, and the Packers are a traditionally draft-and-develop franchise. It’s doable the Browns may additionally require a younger participant or two to complete the deal.
— Not solely will Garrett require a number of excessive draft picks to amass, however the Packers would then must signal him to a market-resetting contract. He has two years left on his present deal and can seemingly need a long-term and profitable dedication from his new staff.
— Buying and selling a first-round choose this 12 months would remove a few of the buzz round Inexperienced Bay internet hosting the 2025 draft. It is a small issue, and never one that ought to deter the Packers from making an attempt. Parading Garrett round Inexperienced Bay throughout the draft would offer loads of buzz.
— The Packers maintain the twenty third general choose within the first spherical this 12 months, so that they don’t have an excellent asset to supply. And if buying and selling Garrett to Inexperienced Bay, future Packers first-round picks shall be valued by the Browns close to the tip of the primary spherical. Getting the compensation proper, and never being outbid by a competitor, shall be tough.
— Buying and selling for and signing a participant who will flip 30 throughout the 2025 season is a danger. Irrespective of how good Garrett is, this might be a excessive danger, excessive reward transfer. The chance of harm and decline could be very actual for all gamers after 30.
— Brian Gutekunst mentioned he feels the expertise alongside the defensive entrance is sweet sufficient, and the Packers made a training change at defensive position coach in an try and get extra out of the returning gamers. It’s doable the Packers don’t see defensive finish as a giant want coming into the offseason.
— It’s doable this commerce thought by no means will get off the bottom. The Browns are in unhealthy area on the wage cap entrance, and buying and selling Garrett really hurts their cap place considerably within the brief time period. Whereas Garrett desires out, and gamers do have some energy, it’s going to be powerful to get the Browns to budge — particularly when a commerce would require torpedoing a nasty cap scenario by delivery away a Corridor of Fame caliber participant.
— Competitors for Garrett shall be heavy, even contemplating Garrett’s need to go to a contender. Any staff with the potential to be within the Tremendous Bowl subsequent February might be going to entertain the concept. And there may be alternative value if Garrett is traded to an NFC rival — which might make the trail to the Tremendous Bowl much more tough for the Packers in 2025 and past.
