Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles recently said that the team was "checking in" on the availability of trading for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby. There might be another guy Poles needs to check in about.
ESPN reporter Field Yates reported that the Cleveland Browns and edge rusher Myles Garrett have agreed on a change in the language in his contract. Garrett's $29 million roster bonus has been pushed back to August 30.
The Browns and refining Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett agreed to some modified language in his contract this week that provides some cap flexibility for the team going forward, as well as some option bonus payment benefit for Garrett: https://t.co/bUrYox8txT
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 25, 2026
Garrett had an NFL-record 23 sacks and was named Defensive Player of the Year last year. If the Bears wanted to strike and bring him in via trade, this is the perfect time to do it.
Bears could trade for Myles Garrett, but some work to do
The dream is to have Garrett and Montez Sweat coming off the edges and pressuring the quarterback with ease. After having just 35 sacks last year, it would be a massive upgrade to have Garrett doing that.
One problem with the Bears: lack of money. They are at $1 million in cap space, so that leaves them with a ton of work to do to create that space.
Chicago could end up trading running back D'Andre Swift and tight end Cole Kmet to create about $15 million in cap space right there. Next, they would have to restructure some contracts and potentially offer extensions to players like linebacker T.J. Edwards and others.
Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension with the Browns last offseason, so he's got five more years on the deal, and the cap hit is between $23-30 million per year through 2028. Then it goes up to $64 million in 2029 and $57 million in 2030.
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The Bears will have to move some money around and have to be ready to trade at least three first-round picks for Garrett, but the seven-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro, and two-time Defensive Player of the Year is worth it.