Myles Garrett trade incoming? Ex-NFL QB floats blockbuster move to solve Vikings, Browns' problems in one swoop

It's that time of the year when 18 teams already have one eye on what will go down in April's NFL draft. Several franchises have questions at quarterback, and if the Cleveland Browns weren't one of those, they certainly belong in that club now. On Friday, the franchise announced that quarterback Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles all over again, pushing his recovery a few months down the line.

The Browns, who have the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft, have been strongly linked with one of Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, depending on who goes No. 1 overall. As things stand, however, former Detroit Lions QB turned NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky believes the Browns need to steer clear of the 2025 class and look at another option altogether.

On Friday's broadcast on ESPN, Orlovsky floated the idea of the Browns shopping star pass rusher Myles Garrett and/or the No. 2 pick for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

"They’re $63 million in the red for next year’s cap. So you’re not replacing the quarterback position with something expensive," Orlovsky said. "You have to find it in a cheap manner. The only two assets that are worth a lot that the Cleveland Browns have are the No. 2 pick and Myles Garrett.

"I entertain the idea, and I think they will at some point have to entertain, calling the Minnesota Vikings if they don’t like somebody in the draft and saying ‘Are you willing to part with J.J. McCarthy?’ Because he’s cheap it depends on if they liked him coming out of college last year and having a conversation around Myles Garrett and/or that No. 2 draft pick."

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What Myles Garrett's contract situation looks like

Garrett is undoubtedly one of the league's top edge rushers, belonging to the same tier as Micah Parsons and T.J. Watt. His current contract still runs for two more years, and he's owed $44.7 million as part of the five-year, $125 million extension he signed in 2020.

Cleveland will likely have to extend Garrett this season since he is tracking to be a free agent in 2026. However, that also depends on if the roster is competitive.

Garrett has made it known that he would like to be on a contender as he approaches the pinnacle of his career, a fact that could potentially be a factor if the Browns decide to make a move before the draft.