The first major bomb of the NFL offseason has already gone off and there is still the Super Bowl to be played, with Ian Rapoport reporting that Myles Garrett has officially requested a trade out of Cleveland.
“As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl — and that goal fuels me today more than ever,” Garrett wrote. “My love for the community of Northeast Ohio and the incredible fanbase of the Cleveland Browns has made this one of the toughest decisions of my life. These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today.
“While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.
“With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”
The Browns have been adamant in the past regarding their refusal to trade the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. However, Pandora’s box is now open, with this news grabbing the attention of every other team in the NFL.
Among them, the Falcons have to be near the top of the list of potential suitors for Myles Garrett. They’ve been looking for an answer to their pass rush woes for over a decade. Whether it’s through the draft or free agency, nothing has panned out the way they had hoped. Now, they might have an opportunity to land a future Hall of Famer in his prime if they are willing to pay a steep price.
With the Falcons looking like they have found their franchise quarterback in Michael Penix Jr., it’s all systems go in Atlanta. They are desperate, ready to compete now, and have a glaring need across the line of scrimmage. All of those things make them a likely trade partner if Cleveland is willing to play ball, as Pro Football Focus notes.
“The Falcons desperately need edge help, with none of their players at the position earning a PFF overall grade above 70.0 in 2024. Like the Commanders, they now have a starting quarterback on a rookie contract to build around, with Michael Penix Jr. earning an 87.9 PFF overall grade across 114 dropbacks.
“Atlanta also has a higher draft pick than the Lions and Commanders, owning the 15th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, which could appeal to the Browns. Packaging veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and that first-round selection may be enough to get the Browns to accept a deal.”
Part of the reason Myles Garrett wants out of Cleveland is because of his desire to win a Super Bowl. The Falcons might not necessarily be #1 on his list of potential new homes, but it might not be that difficult of a sell.
Atlanta plays in one of the weakest divisions in the sport and features an offense ripe with potential. Garrett would cover up a lot of the holes they have defensively, and financially, the Falcons will be in a fantastic spot once the ramifications of Kirk Cousins’ contract are in the rearview mirror.
Ultimately, however, the trade package will determine Myles Garrett’s next destination. The Falcons have been desperate for two things for quite some time — a pass rusher and a postseason berth. Garrett checks one of those boxes and would go a long way in helping the Falcons check the other.
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Photo: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire
According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors are two teams that have checked in regarding the availability of nine-time All-Star Paul George.
The Hawks potential interest doesn’t make much sense, no matter how you slice it. Atlanta’s amid a rebuild and features a number of wings with untapped potential that are much younger than Paul George, who is set to turn 35 years old in a few months.
Beyond that, George’s contract is abysmal. He’s in the first year of a four-year, $211 million contract that will pay him a whopping $57 million during his age-37 season. That’s preposterous for a player that has not been able to stay healthy — playing more than 56 games just once in his last six seasons — and is experiencing a sharp decline in production.
Paul George has had a helluva career, probably even one that will eventually get him into the Hall of Fame, but he’s in his mid-30s and clearly declining as a player. Frankly, I’m not sure why any team would be interested in acquiring his contract. De’Andre Hunter is putting up significantly better numbers and is making about $30 million less per season.
The Hawks are in a difficult spot. The season-ending injury to Jalen Johnson dashes any hopes they had of contending in the Eastern Conference. However, they can’t simply hit the tank button because they don’t own their first-round pick in this year’s draft because of the Dejounte Murray trade.
Landry Fields and Kyle Korver must balance trying to be as competitive as possible this season while still focusing on the future. That can sometimes be impossible waters to navigate, but I can say with 100% certainty Paul George is not the answer to the Hawks problems.
