If they intend to comply with Myles Garrett's trade request, maybe the Browns should hold a public auction to increase the bidding.
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Hey Tony: If Andrew Berry decides to trade Myles Garrett, does it make more sense at this point to keep it quiet or announce to the world we're trading him and give us your best offer by this date, a la the Deshaun Watson bidding war?
-- Kyle, Louisville, KY
Hey Kyle: Houston wrote the manual on how to trade an unwanted player, to be sure. That was a unique situation. Interested teams had to first satisfy Houston’s trade demand in order to then negotiate directly with Watson, whose no-trade clause gave him the leverage to choose his team. There was obviously cooperation between the Texans and Watson to get it done. If the Browns arrive at the conclusion that they must comply with Garrett’s trade request because of “irreconcilable differences,” similar cooperation could result in a public appeal. But first the Browns have to come to grips with trading him.
Hey Tony: Are there any quarterbacks available that you think might placate Myles Garrett?
-- Tony, Tucson, AZ
Hey Tony: It sounds like Matthew Stafford might be made available by the Rams. But I wouldn’t think the Browns could afford the salary cap number they would inherit in a trade. At this point, I wouldn’t bother trying to placate Garrett. He doesn’t want to play for the Browns.
Hey Tony: Thinking outside the QB box for a backup that may be available with a Garret trade. Who are some that come to mind. A guy like Malik Willis is young and looked good and still on a rookie deal. Could he be the bridge QB?
-- Jay, LaGrange, OH
Hey Jay: I wouldn’t worry about including a QB in a trade for Garrett. I would prefer including a starting-caliber player at another position.
Hey Tony: I don’t have a lot of confidence in Andrew Berry making these critical picks in the upcoming draft. Have the Browns made any changes in their scouting department that will lead to better results or do you think Berry has learned from past mistakes?
-- Matt, Washington, DC
Hey Matt: The only change I see is Kevin Stefanski being more involved in the pre-draft process. Stefanski attended the Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl for the first time as Browns coach. When I asked Berry if he needed to change the process of scouting quarterbacks, he acknowledged it was a good question but didn’t give any concrete answer.
Hey Tony: How long will the Browns hold on to their GM? How many bad draft picks, bad contracts before they have had enough?
-- Brian, Cape Cod, MA
Hey Brian: Only Jimmy Haslam can answer these questions.
Hey Tony: Given the current QB situation, what is the feeling in the WR room? What will we see from Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman in 2025?
-- Mike, Fort Worth, TX
Hey Mike: Right now, Jeudy and Tillman would be WR1 and WR2. I would expect a veteran and a rookie to be added. Hopefully, one would be good enough to displace Tillman as WR2.
Hey Tony: Anyone in the building talking about Will Howard?
-- Chris, Canton, OH
Hey Chris: Howard declined his invitation to the Senior Bowl and has been decompressing following his magnificent run to the CFP championship. I would expect talk about him to pick up at the Combine. He belongs in the quarterback conversation, for sure.
Hey Tony: With all the talk of the Browns drafting Jalen Milroe why don't they pursue Justin Fields this offseason? Milroe and Fields are the same type of quarterback -- strong arm, mobile, etc ... only Fields is far more polished at this point in his career.
-- Chris, Auburn, OH
Hey Chris: Pittsburgh has the ability to sign Fields before free agency opens on March 12, and some believe the Steelers will get that done. If not, I consider Fields a possibility for the Browns. Pairing him with Milroe would make sense for the reasons you give.
Hey Tony: Should the Browns take a swing at Aaron Rodgers if he becomes available? Seems like a perfect fit in Stefanski's system and could be that bridge QB everyone keeps talking about.
-- Eric, Columbus, OH
Hey Eric: The drama would be good for my business. That said, please, no. No mas!
Hey Tony: Best guess, when do you see the ground-breaking ceremony taking place in Brook Park? When’s the latest this HAS to happen in order to be open by 2029?
-- Matt, Strongsville, OH
Hey Matt: There has to be a complete financing plan in place before shovels hit the ground. The estimated timetable for construction of the stadium is three years. So to be ready for a grand opening of, say, August of 2029, ground must be broken by August of 2026. That sounds like a lot of time left, but there’s a lot of work to be done.
Hey Tony: Have the Browns said what JOK’s actual injury is?
-- Ted, Fairlawn, OH
Hey Ted: We know it was an injury to his neck. Every time the Browns have been asked for an update, the response has been, “There is no update at this time.” Not a good sign.