NFL Offseason: Will Ohio Lose 2 Stars, Garrett and Higgins?

• Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has asked to be traded
• Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is a free agent
• Both players are in heavy demand with different obstacles to relocating

Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett, understandably unhappy with the team and its direction, asked to be traded shortly after the end of the regular season. The team has said it will not trade him despite most of the NFL lining up for the opportunity to get the charismatic and dominating defender.

Bengals receiver Tee Higgins’ situation is far different. He is a free agent. However, the club can place a franchise tag on him (for the second straight year) and retain him. However, that could lead to complications. Teams would love to get their hands on Higgins.

Myles Garrett’s Possible Destinations

There are players for whom a trade request is a means to an end. They either want a new contract or are constantly unhappy no matter where they are. Teams acquiesce or ride out the storm. With Garrett, the trade request appears to be based solely on the state of the Browns.

Finances are not an issue. According to Spotrac, Garrett has earned nearly $125 million in his career. The 29-year-old is a 6X Pro Bowler, a 4X All-Pro, and was the AP and PFWA Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. He’s a future Hall of Famer who sees his opportunity to win a championship declining by the day.

With Cleveland, he has played in two playoff games, both in 2020. In his seven seasons, the team has had two winning seasons. In 2024, they went 3-14 and were an objective disaster.

After the season, nothing changed. Executive Vice President and General Manager Andrew Berry was retained. So was head coach Kevin Stefanski. Quarterback Deshaun Watson re-tore his Achilles tendon during rehab and will miss the 2025 season.

So Garrett is looking at a 3-14 team with the same brain trust and no idea who the quarterback will be. Why would he want to stay?

The obvious teams where he can achieve his objective of playing for a Super Bowl contender are the Chiefs, 49ers, Eagles, and Bills. The Cowboys are a team with the motivation to make that splash and have a reasonably high draft pick to trade. They are sitting at 12.

The Commanders? It would be a major leap of faith to think they’ll repeat their wondrous jump to the NFC Championship Game, particularly with a tougher schedule.

If the trade happens, the Browns would want to get him out of the AFC. The Cowboys’ defense would be a nightmare with Garrett and Micah Parsons. Of all the teams, this is the likeliest destination.

Tee Higgins Possible Destinations

Higgins leaving the Bengals is far less likely than Garrett leaving the Browns. A free agent, the Bengals can retain Higgins simply by franchise-tagging him the second time. They are going to do it.

Higgins is a foundational part of the Bengals offense and quarterback Joe Burrow is lobbying for his return. The 26-year-old averages 80 catches a year and has scored 34 touchdowns in his five seasons. He and Ja’Marr Chase make for a deadly combination and are a key aspect of Burrow’s massive season accruing nearly 5,000 yards through the air and 42 TD passes.

Principal owner and team president Mike Brown is frugal like his father, the Bengals (and Browns) founder Paul Brown was. But when he needs to pay his players, he does. He takes it to the limit most of the time, but eventually, he pays them.

If and when the Bengals franchise Higgins, it could lead to a holdout unless they give him a long-term contract. Which they will presumably do.

If, however, the situation goes sideways, the best possible destination for Higgins, the Bengals, and the team acquiring him is the Commanders.