Myles Garrett throws Atlanta Falcons A Lifeline

Atlanta Falcons need passport rush help – and one of the game’s best, Cleveland Browns Edge Rusher Myles Garrettmay be able to help.

In a press release issued on Monday, Garrett officially requested a trade from Browns, referring to his hope of competing for a Super Bowl as the primary reason.

Browns said in their own release that they have no plans to trade Garrett. But with Garrett Adamant in his attitude, Cleveland may not have a choice.

So what happens next?

Maybe Falcons go into the fold – and Bleacher Report Insider James Palmer Atlanta believes, if it can have a cap-friendly departure with quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​to better maximize Michael Penix Jr.’s rookie contract would be a logical landing site for Garrett from a needs perspective.

“They’ve been embarrassingly bad to come after quarterback in the last number of years,” Palmer said. “Can you find a way to move on from Kirk and then change the money around? Having the ability to add Myles Garrett to this defense, I think, changes exponentially atlanta and change the perception of Atlanta in 2025 hands down.”

Atlanta has not ranked in the top 10 in sacks since 2004. Falcons spoke only 31 sacks this season, the second-five in NFL.

And Falcons, from general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris to the newly staff defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, intends to add Pass Rushers.

“You never say it won’t be a priority out of season, just for the philosophy of the organization that starts ahead,” Morris said. “You can be # 1 in sacks or last, it will still be a priority. If you can come after quarterback, you can play really good defense and it will always be a priority for us.”

(Related: Falcons will prioritize passport rush in nfl draft, free agency)

Fontenot said Atlanta has printers, but it is necessary to develop internally and add more pieces in the spring. Ulbrich agreed.

“There is no big defense that has ever lived in this league that did not affect quarterback,” Ulbrich said. “You have to influence quarterback in two ways: Either we physically affect him, get him away from the place, sack him, beat him, or we affect him from the point of view from a cover perspective and try to confuse him.

“You can’t thrive in this league from a defensive perspective without a good passport.”

Not only does Falcons recognize their need to improve their Pasrush, but they also tried to act on it. At the trading deadline for the mid-season, Fontenot and Atlanta’s staff tried to add a defensive line and pass the rush help, Palmer said, and called other teams with hope of finding a match.

Although Falcons will fall short in the fall, Palmer believes that their previous persecution of a passport Rusher could prove to be relevant when Garrett’s situation takes place.

“The reason I bring it up is just to remember they have been aggressive,” Palmer said. “And these are little things that you always try to remember when you think about this type of conversation.”

Both palms and The athleticDianna Russini said any trading package for Garrett is likely to include a choice of first round and a combination of day 2 draft election or a player. Atlanta currently owns the 15th election in 2025 NFL Draft.

Currently, however, Falcons’ true interest in Garrett is unknown.

The 29-year-old Garrett, who has been an all-pro five equal years and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year last season, recorded 14 sacks and a league-high 22 tackle for loss while starting all 17 games in 2024.

Garrett has two years left on the five -year -old, $ 125 million contract he signed in 2020, and According to nfl.comHe wears Cap hits of $ 19.7 million and $ 20.4 million respectively in 2025 and 2026.

Atlanta is meanwhile 27. In the league in Cap space with negative-11 million dollars, according to Overthecap. Falcons also have only five drafts of elections, including only two and second round elections in the top 100.

And then while Atlanta has a shining need for another passport Rusher, and Garrett would be a much-needed acquisition, Falcons do not appear to have the necessary capital to make such a movement-self-Cleveland was willing to negotiate.