The Chicago Bears may have suffered a setback in Week 8 with their loss to the Washington Commanders, but there’s growing speculation about a potential blockbuster trade that could bring Cleveland Browns defensive star Myles Garrett to Chicago before the NFL trade deadline.
In an article for *The Athletic*, Dianna Russini and Jacob Robinson highlighted “six potential trades that could reshape the NFL landscape” ahead of the November 5 deadline, with one proposal involving the Bears acquiring Garrett.
“Myles Garrett is a one-man wrecking crew,” they wrote on October 24, pointing to his impact as a game-changing defensive end. The 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year has consistently dominated with double-digit sacks in each of the past six seasons, including a career-high 16 in both 2021 and 2022. Even with the Browns’ 2-6 struggles in 2024, Garrett has already logged four sacks in eight games.
The proposed deal would see the Bears send their 2025 and 2026 first-round picks, along with rookie defensive end Austin Booker, to the Browns in exchange for Garrett and his $125 million contract, which runs through 2026. Despite the hefty price, *The Athletic* argues the Bears would still retain valuable assets, including a 2025 second-round pick from Carolina, and have ample cap space in 2025 to manage Garrett’s salary. With a solid roster core and rookie contracts for players like quarterback Caleb Williams and receiver Rome Odunze, Garrett could be the missing piece in a Super Bowl window for Chicago.
However, trading for Garrett presents significant challenges. While his base salary for 2024 is modest at $1.2 million, his cap hits for 2025 and 2026 are steep, around $19.72 million and $20.37 million, respectively. Furthermore, a dead-cap charge of over $37 million looms for 2027 due to a void year in his contract. Garrett might also demand a contract extension to match the league’s highest-paid defensive ends, further complicating the financial picture.
Moreover, such a trade would disrupt the Bears’ long-term strategy. GM Ryan Poles has been carefully rebuilding the team, and sacrificing first-round picks for Garrett could derail that progress. Investing those picks in young, talented players could be a better alternative than trading for a star nearing his 30s.
While acquiring Garrett may be unrealistic, the Bears could still make a move for defensive line reinforcements, especially with Montez Sweat suffering a shin injury in Week 8. Depending on the severity of Sweat’s injury, the Bears might explore other trade options to bolster their pass rush before the deadline.
