Can the Bills convince the Browns to trade for Myles Garrett? The missing piece for Josh Allen

The Buffalo Bills' pursuit of a championship may be entering a high-velocity phase as the franchise prepares to move into its new stadium.

Following news on Thursday that Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns modified his contract language to push back option bonus deadlines, the Buffalo Bills have instantly surfaced as a premier trade candidate for the superstar edge rusher.

While the Cleveland Browns have officially stated they have no current intention of moving their cornerstone defender, the restructuring, which reduces the dead cap hit for a potential trade, has effectively widened the window for a blockbuster deal.

Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr has identified Buffalo as the most logical "accelerator" for the move, suggesting that a Myles Garrett trade would be a transformative gift for the team's newly minted coaching staff.

This speculation comes at a time of immense organizational transition in Orchard Park. On January 27, 2026, the Buffalo Bills named Joe Brady as their new head coach following the dismissal of Sean McDermott, and just days later, they brought in Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator.

For a first-year staff, the acquisition of a player who set a new NFL single-season record with 23 sacks in 2025 would provide an immediate defensive identity.

Conor Orr argues that adding Myles Garrett would not only ensure the new regime doesn't "tank" during its inaugural season but would also serve as a definitive statement of intent as the team transitions into its state-of-the-art facility this summer.

Building an elite frontier for the 2026 campaign

The Buffalo Bills have already been aggressive in addressing their defensive front this offseason, most notably signing two-time Pro Bowler Bradley Chubb to a three-year, $43.5 million deal on March 11.

However, the potential addition of Myles Garrett would represent a "changing of the guard" for a unit that has spent years attempting to solve its pass-rushing woes through the veteran market.

By pairing Myles Garrett with Bradley Chubb and Greg Rousseau, the Buffalo Bills would possess arguably the most fearsome defensive line in the NFL, a necessity for a team that must regularly contend with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the postseason.

The logistical path to a trade is complex but increasingly feasible due to the specific contract tweaks made this week.

Myles Garrett's 2026 cap hit for an acquiring team would be a manageable $9.14 million, a figure the Buffalo Bills could fit under the cap by restructuring existing veteran deals, such as that of left tackle Dion Dawkins.

Furthermore, the Cleveland Browns have recently proposed an NFL rule change that would allow teams to trade draft picks up to five years in the future.

If passed, this would allow Buffalo to offer a more enticing, long-term package to Cleveland without depleting their immediate roster depth.