Myles Garrett’s contract value surges as Cowboys’ trade stance backfires

Myles Garrett’s refusal to leave the Cleveland Browns is about to cost the Dallas Cowboys far more than a 2024 draft pick. Insider chatter now suggests the Cowboys’ hands-off approach will inflate Garrett’s next deal to record territory.

What happened?

On 15 July 2026, NFL insiders revealed the Cleveland Browns’ leverage over Garrett has grown after Dallas’ public refusal to part with a first-rounder. The Cowboys’ stance now looks shortsighted as league-wide edge-rush demand has spiked. Garrett’s camp has already signaled they’re open to talks, but the Browns’ patience has paid off.

Why it matters for Myles Garrett

Garrett, 28, is now the league’s most coveted non-QB free agent in 2027. His 2025 sack total (14.5) ranked second in the NFL, trailing only T.J. Watt. The Cowboys’ refusal to engage in trade talks has handed Cleveland a bargaining chip-one they’re using to push Garrett’s asking price into nine-figure territory. And the longer Dallas waits, the steeper the cost climbs.

What comes next?

Garrett’s next contract could shatter the edge-rusher market. The Browns have already extended him through 2026, but the 2027 free-agency clock is ticking. Dallas’ inaction has forced other teams to rethink their own edge plans. If Garrett hits the open market, the bidding war will dwarf the haul the Cowboys could’ve grabbed in April.

The ripple effect

Teams chasing pass rush now face a brutal choice: overpay in free agency or gamble on younger, unproven options. The Cowboys’ gamble has backfired before-most recently with Micah Parsons’ extension. Garrett’s leverage mirrors that scenario, except the Browns hold all the cards. And the longer Dallas waits, the fewer chips they’ll have left.