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Los Angeles Chargers Trade For Myles Garrett: Is It Possible?

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Myles Garrett Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers now have real pull in the NFL due to the hiring of head coach Jim Harbaugh and his first-year success with the Bolts. Even with a not-so-great playoff loss in the first round, it is obvious the Chargers are real contenders for coming seasons and will attract free agents.

Good weather, good culture, a real playoff-caliber staff, and plenty of cap space are all factors in signing some “big-fish” free agents. However, the trade market shares the same needs to attract big-name players, and there is no bigger name than Browns superstar, Myles Garrett.

Los Angeles Chargers Trade For Myles Garrett: Is It Possible?

Myles Garrett was rumored to request a trade if he felt the Browns were entering a rebuild earlier this off-season, this was shut down by Browns General Manager, Andrew Berry. Well come February 3rd, 2025, Garrett has officially requested out of Cleveland, nullifying anything that Berry said. Garett is coming off a 14-sack season where he earned another First Team All-Pro. He now has four in his eight-year career.

A player of this caliber is rare in general but for him to be available for trade is even more rare. The last time the NFL has seen this is possibly now Chargers superstar, Khalil Mack when he was first traded to Chicago Bears in 2018.

What It Would Take For the Chargers To Land Myles Garrett?

The Salary Cap

The ability for the Chargers to get Myles Garrett would have to be split into two different parts. Obviously, the cap space needed to attain Garrett is very important. The other side of things is the draft capital needed to trade over to the Browns to acquire Garrett.

Starting with the salary cap, in a previous article discussing needed upgrades for the Chargers, it was deemed that the Chargers would have an estimated 47~ million in effective spending space, per Daniel Popper. Garrett’s contract if traded would cost just under five million leaving the Chargers with 42~ left in cap space. Numbers courtesy of OverTheCap & SBNation.

It should be noted that if the Chargers trade for Myles Garrett it would be more than likely he would demand an extension. So the five million dollar cap hit number for 2025 very well could be out the window by the time he is on a new team, however, for this exercise, his current 2025 cap hit is the number that will be used.

The Trade Capital Needed

Moving onto the capital needed to acquire a player of Garrett’s caliber, it very well could take multiple high-round selections and player(s). A very possible trade the Chargers could offer to the Browns to get Garrett is:

  • Chargers get:
    – Myles Garrett
  • Browns get:
    – 2025 1st Round Selection
    – 2026 1st Round Selection
    – 2025 4th Round Selection
    – 2026 5th Round Selection

 

While using players like Joey Bosa and Trey Pipkins as possible trade pieces for Garrett would be intriguing, it should very well be noted that the Browns are negative in cap space, and adding Bosa and Pipkins to the mix would only make their problem much worse. Trading for draft picks would allow them to replenish their roster with young and cheap talent.

The Real Question is: Does It Even Make Sense For The Bolts?

Now that the details are all laid out, does this trade even make sense for the Chargers? Myles Garrett to the Chargers of course sounds great in theory, as every team in the NFL should be interested to an extent. That said, there are three factors to deem whether it is sensible for the Bolts or not: need at the position, the scheme fit and the resources given up for Garrett vs simply just using them as is.

The Chargers need for an EDGE rusher is very real, and adding Garrett would immediately fix their issues at EDGE. Just imagine Mack, Garrett, Tuli Tuipolotu, Bud Dupree and the underrated Poona Ford on the same defensive line. As for the scheme fit, does it really even matter? Like honestly, it’s Myles Garrett (but yes he is a fit, and would be incredible with Jesse Minter.)

The last piece of the puzzle is where it gets tricky. In the mock trade above, the Chargers would be giving up two firsts and a few mid-round selections. This is for a 29-year-old EDGE rusher who is going to ask for a major contract.

Doing so would not allow the Chargers to draft an offensive weapon in the first round for the next two seasons, and this would be mightily unpopular amongst Chargers fans. Also, if the Chargers were to extend Garrett as expected, having enough money to field a well-rounded roster AND add a true receiving threat would be nearly impossible… unless they hit on another second rookie receiver.

Last Word on Myles Garrett to the Chargers

An important thing to remember is that Chargers General Manager, Joe Hortiz was quoted saying: “Last year we had less money to spend but we were responsible with our spending. I think you always stay responsible with your spending on the salary cap.”

Hortiz seemingly wants to be pretty reasonable and responsible with his spending in 2025, and trading for Garrett does not exactly align with that idea. Should Chargers fans pump the breaks in regards to trading for Myles Garrett? Or should the hype train continue?

Main Photo: Tommy Gilligan – Imagn Images

The post Los Angeles Chargers Trade For Myles Garrett: Is It Possible? appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.