The Myles Garrett trade to the Rams has been thoroughly dissected since it went down back on June 1, but a new report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reveals Cleveland actually had interest from a second suitor that never came close to matching what Los Angeles ultimately offered. Writing in his Sweep newsletter, Pelissero detailed how the Buffalo Bills reached out to the Browns the very day the trade leaked publicly, adding an interesting wrinkle to a deal that reshaped 2 defensive fronts and sent shockwaves through the league when it was first announced.
“But sources say another team called Cleveland on the day the trade leaked, the Bills, who had checked in periodically on Garrett’s availability for the better part of 2 years,” Pelissero wrote.
According to Pelissero’s reporting, the Rams were the only team the Browns actually negotiated with before completing the deal, which sent Garrett to Los Angeles in exchange for 3 high draft picks and Jared Verse.
Pelissero’s report also notes that even if Buffalo had matched the draft pick compensation Los Angeles put forward, the Bills simply could not offer anything resembling Verse, a young, ascending edge rusher still on his rookie contract. That specific piece proved pivotal in convincing Cleveland to finally part with a 2 time Defensive Player of the Year, since it allowed the Browns to immediately replace a portion of Garrett’s production with a talented player rather than relying purely on draft capital.
Buffalo’s persistent interest over nearly 2 years speaks to how highly regarded Garrett remained around the league even as reports of a Cleveland trade felt more speculative than realistic for years. Now firmly entrenched with the Rams, Garrett’s decision to leave Cleveland behind ultimately came down to the one team willing and able to structure a deal that Cleveland’s front office found impossible to turn down, a reality the Bills apparently understood only after it was already too late to compete.
NEXT: Analyst Reveals Deshaun Watson's Staggering Cap Impact
