Heavy on Browns

Browns star Myles Garrett has been floated as a trade target for the Lions.

The Cleveland Browns have struggled to a 1-5 start this season, sparking a wave of trade speculation. One of the most surprising rumors floating around suggests that Myles Garrett will be dealt to the Detroit Lions.

The Lions lost star passer Aidan Hutchinson to a broken leg during a win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. He has recorded an NFL-high 7.5 sacks and was the betting favorite for Defensive Player of the Year before the injury.

Hutchinson is likely out for the rest of the year and the Lions have championship aspirations. Detroit is 4-1 and one of the top contenders in the NFC.

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky urged the Lions to call the Browns to see what it would take to land Garrett or his pass-rush partner Za’Darius Smith.

“I think you should call the Cleveland Browns and see what it would cost to get Myles Garrett or Za’Darius Smith,” Orlovsky continued. NFL Live on Monday.

Browns DE Za’Darius Smith More logical trade target for Lions

The suggestion that the Browns trade Garrett sparked a reaction from the rest of the panel, and rightly so. Garrett is a generational talent who earned his first Defensive Player of the Year honor. Even if the team meets a miserable finish this year, Garrett – who is only 28 – would be part of any “rebuild.” Cleveland has Garrett under contract through the 2026 season.

Smith makes much more sense as a potential trade target. After a solid first season in Cleveland, he signed a two-year, $23 million contract with the Browns this offseason. Smith has three sacks this year, second only to Garrett (4). He has added eleven tackles and two for a loss.

“You have to make sure Za’Darius is as willing to play the run as Aidan is,” Orlovsky said.

Another intriguing name linked to the Lions is Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby. Orlovsky encouraged the Lions to go all-in, insisting they must offer whatever it takes to acquire the dynamic pass rusher.

“I think you’re calling the Raiders for Maxx Crosby,” Orlovsky said. “I don’t care if it costs you a first-round pick, you give it. You are the best team in the NFC.”

Myles Garrett isn’t losing confidence after Browns’ miserable start

The Browns have had a rough start to the year, struggling on both sides of the ball. A 1-5 record isn’t ideal, but Garrett is still confident the Browns can bounce back and get back into the mix.

“We have some great leaders in this locker room, including myself,” Garrett said after the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. “I’m not letting these guys step away at any point. We’ve got a lot of games to go, a lot of season to go, a lot of AFC games to keep ourselves in the picture and focus on that. So don’t worry about that.”

The Browns return home Sunday after three straight road games. Before their bye week, Cleveland will play three consecutive games at home, including two division games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens.

JR DeGroote covers the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Lakers for Heavy.com. He graduated from Arizona State and has decades of experience in digital media, with previous stops at SBNation and Bleacher Report. He has won multiple state, regional and national awards for sports reporting and photography. More about JR DeGroote