Draft day trade fever

ESPN reported the Browns and Myles Garrett agreed to modified contract language that pushes the option-bonus exercise dates for 2026–2028 from the 15th day of the league year (March 25) to seven days before the regular season. (espn.com) The amendment also converted $8 million of Garrett’s 2029–2030 base salaries into early roster bonuses, a structure cap analysts say makes his deal more “tradeable” deeper into the offseason. (espn.com) (profootballnetwork.com) Cap calculations show Cleveland would take roughly a $41.09 million dead-cap hit if Garrett were traded before June 1 but only about $15.53 million if moved after that date, changes analysts point to when assessing pre-draft trade feasibility. (cbssports.com) (spotrac.com) The Browns enter the 2026 draft holding two first-round selections at No. 6 and No. 24, assets the front office can use to pursue multiple first-rounders in any blockbuster package. (clevelandbrowns.com) (nfl.com) Trade-market parallels cited by analysts put a likely baseline for Cleveland’s asking price in the multi–first-round range, with commentators specifically noting comparisons to recent edge-rusher deals that netted two first-round picks plus veteran compensation. (bleacherreport.com) Cleveland has also formally proposed a league rule to allow teams to trade draft picks up to five years into the future, a measure owners will discuss at the March 29–April 1 annual meeting that would expand the mechanisms available for large draft-capital trades. (espn.com) (nfl.com)