No, the Colts Aren’t Ready For A Myles Garrett Trade
Credit: Jenna Watson via Imagn Images
You might have heard: Myles Garrett wants out of the Cleveland Browns organization. Hard to blame him. It’s hard to think of a team that wouldn’t be able to use Garrett’s generational talents, including the Browns, who are holding the line on not trading him. At least, for now.
But on paper, it’s hard to see how keeping a disgruntled Garrett is in the Browns’ best interests. They went 3-14 last year and their next few seasons are going to be a mess because of their Deshaun Watson fiasco. Garrett is 29, at the tail end of his prime, and one has to think that reason will eventually prevail.
Besides, we gotta keep that hot stove going in the offseason. Even if Garrett doesn’t get traded, it’s speculation season, bay-beeeeeeee. And that’s why ESPN’s Bill Barnwell weighed every team’s chances of landing the star edge rusher in a trade. Three teams made his “Sweet Spot” category: the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders… and Indianapolis Colts. Says Barnwell:
General manager Chris Ballard generally has been patient with holding onto picks and drafting and developing talent, but he has made an exception for pass-rushing talent. Indy sent a first-round pick to the [San Francisco] 49ers for DeForest Buckner, who has been a stalwart for the Colts since 2020.
Ballard has invested first-round picks on the edge in Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu, but Paye could be a meaningful part of the return that goes back to the Browns in a Garrett deal.
Barnwell’s reasoning for Indianapolis being in the sweet spot makes sense. He notes that it’s hard to break the bank on an expensive defensive player when you’re paying a quarterback superstar money. Anthony Richardson is in the middle of his rookie deal, and if he can put things together next year, the Colts could have an explosive offense. Pair that with Garrett, and who knows what happens?
On one hand, I want to believe. On the other, the truth is out there, and I just can’t look at where the Colts are right now and accept that they’re in a window to land Garrett.
Yes, the Colts were 8-9 last season, and technically just two games behind a Wild Card spot. But seriously, do we think this team is one player away? Look at their wins last season, and tell me which made you think the Colts could make some noise in 2025:
Chicago Bears
Pittsburgh Steelers (with Justin Fields at QB)
@ Tennessee Titans
Miami Dolphins (with Tyler Huntley at QB)
@ New York Jets
@ New England Patriots
Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars (In overtime, with Mac Jones at QB)
The biggest feather in their cap last year, arguably, was having a mere minus-5 point differential in two losses to the Houston Texans. They lost back-to-back home games to the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions by double-digits. Their do-or-die Week 14 road match against the Denver Broncos saw them blow a 10-0 lead, then surrender 24 unanswered points in a 31-13 blowout.
Look, I don’t want to sound like a hater. I really don’t! But before I see the Colts give away multiple first-round picks, or a first-round pick, Paye, and more picks, I have to believe that it’s going to make the Colts legitimate contenders.
Unfortunately, that’s not possible until we know what they have in Richardson. Yes, if Richardson explodes in Year 3, stays healthy, and becomes the star his talent suggests he can be, then Garrett probably helps the Colts make the playoffs. But that’s a big bet to place on Richardson, and with the AFC loaded with the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens, I’m still not sure that’s enough to propel Indianapolis to a deep playoff run.
And if Richardson doesn’t break out, the Colts are starting from Square One again, but with a 30-year-old Garrett instead of a 2025 and/or 2026 first-round pick. And if there’s no first-round pick in 2026, that means there’s probably not a rookie quarterback, which means Garrett will have to try to stave off Father Time to drag a transitional quarterback into the playoffs.
That’s a hard no for me. It’d be fun, sure. But as much as I hate waiting to see the Colts put everything together, they’re just not ready to skip steps in the rebuilding process. Garrett is a great player, and he probably has two or three great years left in the tank. Still, I just can’t see him elevating this team to the level of the Bills and Ravens in that window, let alone the Chiefs. They can still try building up in free agency, and I’d endorse that — all that costs is money. But while there will be a time to spend draft picks to land elite talent, that sweet spot simply isn’t today.
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