The San Francisco 49ers may have an avenue to take a massive swing in the trade market this offseason.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has officially requested a trade according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
This doesn’t come as a huge shock after Garrett floated the idea of “conversations” that needed to be had with Cleveland following a dreadful 3-14 season. The Browns have only been to the playoffs twice since selecting Garrett No. 1 overall in the 2017 draft and now he’s looking for the exit with the franchise heading the wrong direction.
There aren’t many massive trades the 49ers were likely to get involved in, but given their need for pass rush help and the importance of the defensive line to what they want to do defensively, this is a deal where their hat should immediately be in the ring.
It won’t be easy since Garrett will have many suitors around the league. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler, four-time First-Team All-Pro and a Defensive Player of the Year who has 102.5 career sacks and hasn’t had fewer than 10.0 in a season since his rookie year.
Acquiring Garrett will require multiple picks and potentially a first-rounder, but he’s only 29 and still playing at a high level. Finding a player better than him to put across from Nick Bosa is nigh impossible.
Garrett has two years left on a five-year deal he signed before the 2020 season. There’s no guaranteed money left on the deal, so would likely be on the table from the team that acquires the former DPOY.
If the 49ers are going to do anything bigger than sign Brock Purdy to a contract extension this offseason, it should be finding a way to trade for Garrett because pass rushers of his caliber aren’t available often.
