Defensive end Miles Garrett is reportedly seeking a trade from the Cleveland Browns, and the team’s owner, Jimmy Haslam, may complicate this process by insisting that any team interested in Garrett must also take on Deshaun Watson’s substantial contract. Watson, who has a fully guaranteed deal worth $230 million over five years, is unlikely to play again due to a recent Achilles tendon surgery.
The situation is reminiscent of the Browns’ previous trade involving Brock Osweiler. If a new team agrees to trade for Garrett, the burden of Watson’s contract could diminish the draft compensation and contract offers the Browns receive for Garrett. However, if the Browns can generate competitive interest similar to the Texans did in Watson’s earlier trade negotiations, they might find a suitable deal.
Teams with sufficient cap space, such as the Commanders, Chargers, Vikings, and Lions, could be potential candidates for this trade, but they would face challenges in justifying the financial impacts of taking on Watson’s contract alongside acquiring Garrett. Ultimately, the success of such negotiations hinges on whether a team believes trading for Watson is a worthwhile risk for pursuing Garrett. The Browns’ association with Watson and Garrett could be seen as the most unfavorable transactions in recent NFL history.
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