Browns Owner: Garrett Trade Was Berry’s Call

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said Friday that the team’s decision to trade defensive end Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams was initiated by General Manager Andrew Berry. Haslam described the move as difficult given Garrett’s standing, while framing it as a deliberate roster decision.

The trade was completed nearly two months ago and followed Garrett’s record-setting 2025 season. Officials tied the timing and structure of the deal to a reset in how the franchise plans to build its defense going forward.

Garrett deal shifts Cleveland’s defensive blueprint

Cleveland Browns

Haslam said the mechanism behind the trade was built around long-term roster sustainability and acquiring draft capital. The Browns, by moving a veteran star, positioned themselves to prioritize a younger, cost-controlled defensive core rather than concentrating resources in a single high-profile player. As part of the transaction, Cleveland received a 25-year-old player on a rookie contract, along with first-, second-, and third-round draft selections. The organization presented that mix of incoming talent and picks as central to its next phase of roster construction. Draft-capital emphasis follows the 2022 Watson acquisition Haslam pointed to the Browns’ earlier loss of premium draft assets as a key backdrop for the Garrett trade. He said the franchise had previously depleted high-value picks in connection with the 2022 acquisition of quarterback Deshaun Watson, limiting flexibility in subsequent roster cycles.

Within that context

Within that context, the return for Garrett is being positioned as a way to rebuild depth and widen options across the roster. Haslam said that while parting with Garrett was not easy, the additional draft resources create room to reinforce multiple positions.

Three-season horizon for roster stabilization

According to Haslam, the organization expects the combination of newly acquired talent and added draft capital to stabilize the roster over the next three seasons. The stated objective is to use the flexibility from rookie-contract players and additional selections to reinforce depth and maintain a sustainable roster structure.

Officials did not describe specific future moves tied to the picks, and the pace of change will depend on how quickly the new additions contribute. For now, Haslam’s comments set the trade’s internal origin with Berry and place the decision inside a broader plan to re-balance the Browns’ roster after prior draft-pick costs.

Implications