The NFL is a league where "never" usually has an expiration date. Just look at the landscape right now. We're sitting in January 2026, and the Cleveland Browns are staring down the barrel of another 5-12 season. Meanwhile, Jerry Jones is doing what Jerry Jones does—hunting for a splash that can distract everyone from a frustrating playoff exit. The whispers about a Myles Garrett trade to the Cowboys may be likely aren't just coming from the usual social media trolls anymore. They're coming from the math.
Cleveland is at a crossroads. Total ground zero. They’ve gone 7-26 over the last two seasons. Myles is 30. He just put up 22 sacks and basically carried a dead-weight roster on his back while the offense sat 31st in scoring. He’s explicitly said he isn’t interested in a rebuild. "If we’re thinking anything other than winning—tanking or rebuilding—it’s not me," Garrett told reporters just two weeks ago. When a Hall of Fame talent says that while his team is holding the No. 6 overall pick, you listen.
Why the Browns Might Actually Pull the Trigger
It sounds insane to trade a guy who is half a sack away from the single-season record. It is. But the Browns are in a financial vice. They are still paying for the Deshaun Watson era—a deal that will go down as the most lopsided disaster in sports history. They have Mason Graham developing into a star on the interior, but the rest of the roster is a mess.
If Andrew Berry wants to give Shedeur Sanders or whatever rookie QB they grab at No. 6 a real chance, he needs picks. A lot of them. We saw what the Cowboys did when they moved Micah Parsons to the Packers for a haul. That trade set a precedent. If Garrett is "only" going to get you five wins while he's in his prime, why not turn him into three first-rounders that could build a ten-win roster three years from now?
The dead money is the scary part. Trading him now means Cleveland eats about $41 million in 2026. Sounds impossible? Not really. The Broncos swallowed $80 million to get rid of Russell Wilson and they're fine. It's about a clean break. The Browns have two first-round picks this year already (the 6th and the 24th from Jacksonville). Adding a Cowboys' 2026 and 2027 first would give them the kind of draft capital that changes a franchise's trajectory for a decade.
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The Cowboys' Desperation Factor
Dallas is a weird team right now. They’re projected to be $30 million over the cap for 2026. On paper, they can't afford a sandwich, let alone the highest-paid non-QB in history. But look closer at the restructures. If they move money on Dak, CeeDee, and Tyler Smith, they can create upwards of $100 million in space almost overnight.
They need a replacement for the pass-rushing void left by Parsons. They need a "war daddy." Jerry Jones isn't getting any younger, and the "all-in" mantra from 2024 was a joke, but the 2026 reality is different. The roster is aging in key spots. They need a win-now move that actually works. Pairing Garrett with whatever is left of that defensive front would immediately make Dallas the favorite in the NFC East, especially with the Eagles lurking in the shadows.
There is a genuine fear in Frisco that if they don't move, Philadelphia will. The Eagles have the picks. They have the aggressive GM in Howie Roseman. If Garrett lands in Philly green, it's lights out for the Cowboys' division hopes for the next three years.
The Financial Logistics of a Blockbuster
Let's talk numbers. Real ones. Garrett signed that four-year, $160 million extension last year. It has a no-trade clause. That’s the big hurdle. But if Myles wants to win a ring—and he’s been very vocal about that being his only goal—he’s going to waive that clause for a team like Dallas.
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- Garrett’s 2026 Base: Manageable for a trade partner because Cleveland already paid the signing bonus.
- The Price Tag: Likely two first-round picks and a high-end starter. Think a package involving a 2026 1st, a 2027 1st, and maybe a young piece like Jake Ferguson or a defensive starter to help Cleveland’s transition.
- The Cap Hit: Dallas would need to restructure him immediately to spread that $40 million AAV over the life of the deal.
Honestly, the trade works because both teams are desperate for different things. Cleveland is desperate for a future. Dallas is desperate for a present.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Trade
The biggest misconception is that the Browns "can't" trade him because he's their best player. That's old-school thinking. In 2026, the NFL is about windows. Garrett's window doesn't match the Browns' rebuild window. By the time Cleveland is good again, Myles will be 33 or 34. His value will never be higher than it is right now, coming off a 22-sack season.
Also, people think the Cowboys are too "broke" to do this. The "Cap is a Myth" crowd is usually annoying, but in this specific case, they're kinda right. The Cowboys have so many massive contracts that they can flip into signing bonuses to create room. It's risky. It creates a "cap hell" in 2029, but Jerry Jones has shown he's willing to burn the future to warm the present.
Practical Realities to Watch
If you're waiting for this to happen, keep your eyes on the pre-draft news cycle in March. That's when the "option bonuses" in Garrett's contract trigger. If a trade happens, it'll likely be before then to save Cleveland from paying out more cash.
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Watch the Browns' coaching situation, too. Kevin Stefanski is on the hot seat after four losing seasons in six years. If he's gone and a new regime comes in, they'll want their own guys. They won't want an expensive 30-year-old vet who is already talking about leaving if things don't go perfectly.
The Myles Garrett trade to the Cowboys may be likely because the stars are aligning in the most chaotic way possible. You've got a disgruntled superstar, a team with too many picks and no wins, and a Dallas owner who lives for the blockbuster.
Next Steps for Fans Following This Saga:
- Monitor the March 27th Deadline: This is the critical date for Garrett's roster/option bonuses. If he isn't moved by then, the price for Dallas goes up significantly.
- Track the Cowboys' Restructures: Keep an eye on Spotrac or OverTheCap for any Dak Prescott or CeeDee Lamb contract tweaks in February. If those happen early, it’s a sign Dallas is clearing space for a major acquisition.
- Watch the Browns' Draft Strategy: If Cleveland starts interviewing more than just quarterbacks for that No. 6 pick—specifically looking at edge rushers like those out of Georgia or Ohio State—they are preparing for life after Myles.