PHOENIX — The Cleveland Browns are holding the line. Despite swirling Myles Garrett trade rumors dominating the early weeks of the 2026 offseason, the front office is slamming the door shut. Garrett isn’t going anywhere. General Manager Andrew Berry faced the media at the NFL owners’ meetings this weekend and delivered a direct message: the defensive anchor stays in Cleveland. However, the team’s attempt to bolster the defensive line behind him just hit a major medical roadblock.
Money Moves, Not Moving Vans
Fans hit the panic button last week when ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported a contract adjustment, noting the Browns shifted $8 million of Garrett’s 2029 and 2030 base salary into early roster bonuses. Pundits immediately assumed Cleveland was preparing to ship out their 30-year-old star. NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo crushed that theory, insisting internal financial gymnastics do not equal a departure.
Garrett literally rewrote the history books in 2025, racking up a mind-blowing 23 sacks to set the single-season NFL record. You could feel the desperation from rival fanbases hoping Cleveland would hit the reset button. But you do not trade the guy who single-handedly wrecks opposing quarterbacks every Sunday. While Berry stopped short of matching his “under no circumstances” declaration from 2025, his tone at the podium left zero room for misinterpretation.
“Myles is a career Brown. He is one of the faces of our organization… I understand all the questions. I don’t really want to waste a ton more breath on the topic.”— Andrew Berry, Browns General Manager
The Epenesa Plot Twist
While the Browns locked down their superstar, their plan to add rotational depth hit a brick wall. Early offseason reports indicated Cleveland had secured former Buffalo Bills edge rusher A.J. Epenesa on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. Real-world medical evaluations changed that reality. Late Sunday night, the deal completely fell through due to concerns following Epenesa’s physical.
The 27-year-old, coming off a quiet 2025 campaign with just 2.5 sacks, now heads back to the open market. This sudden collapse leaves Cleveland searching for reliable bodies to pair alongside defensive tackle Kalia Davis and back up Garrett in the trenches.
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Cleveland’s defensive identity hinges entirely on Garrett’s superhuman burst off the edge. Without a reliable backup plan after the Epenesa contract collapsed, the front office has to scramble. The AFC North routinely punishes weak defensive lines, and the Browns cannot afford to run Garrett into the ground. Expect Berry to aggressively target edge rushers in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft or scan the post-June 1 cut wire. Opposing quarterbacks won’t get a break from Garrett, but the Browns urgently need rotational depth to keep him fresh for a late-season run.
