The Chicago Bears make a ton of sense as a landing spot for Myles Garrett, except for one major impediment.
Garrett and the Cleveland Browns recently agreed to amend his contract in a way that puzzled cap analysts around the NFL with what doing so accomplished, aside from making the reigning Defensive Player of the Year more tradable this spring/summer and in the next several offseasons to come.
That, of course, led to widespread trade speculation, with the general consensus on Garrett’s value falling somewhere between two and three first-round picks. The Bears could make a quality offer of pick Nos. 25 and 57 in this year’s draft, as well as a first-rounder in 2027. The problem, however, is the team’s lack of salary cap space.
Garrett is under contract through 2030 after inking a four-year extension worth $160 million last offseason. Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report on Saturday named Chicago among the ideal suitors for Garrett, but noted the franchise’s financials as the primary issue in that endeavor.
“There is one major obstacle to this deal outside the enormous cost in draft capital the Browns will undoubtedly demand in a Garrett deal,” Davenport wrote. “Per Over the Cap, there isn’t a team that is tighter against the salary cap than the Bears. It would take more than a few financial machinations from Chicago general manager Ryan Poles to get Garrett’s contract under the cap.”
As of March 28, the Bears had less than $250,000 in salary cap space and needed to open up several million more just in order to sign the draft picks they’ll make less than one month from now.
Myles Garrett Represents Massive Upgrade for Beleaguered Bears’ Pass Rush
GettyCleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Chicago desperately needs an upgrade to its pass rush, and Garrett represents the biggest potentially available after setting a single-season league record with 23 sacks last season. He also led the NFL with 33 tackles for loss.
Meanwhile, the Bears tallied 35 sacks as a team in 2025. Chicago also finished in the bottom five in the league in total quick pressures and pass rush win rate.
Defensive end Montez Sweat led the Bears with 10 sacks, while second-year player Austin Booker came on late in the year and finished the campaign with 12 QB hits, five tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 10 games played (521 total snaps).
Dayo Odeyingbo Miss Last Offseason Hurting Bears Now
GettyDefensive end Dayo Odeyingbo of the Chicago Bears.
Chicago spent upwards of $50 million on defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo last offseason, which proved to be the team’s biggest flop of free agency in 2025.
“[Odeyingbo] struggled in his first eight games, registering just one sack and two tackles for loss before suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Week 9,” Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report wrote Friday, when he described the DE as the Bears “most overpaid player” heading into 2026. “Far from ideal for a guy who will count $20.5 million against the cap.”
Cutting Odeyingbo doesn’t provide the Bears with anywhere near the cap space necessary to justify such a move, so he will certainly remain on the roster for at least one more year. Chicago can hope that Odeyingbo regains his pre-2025 form upon his return from injury next season, but an upgrade to the pass rush remains critical — even in the best-case scenarios.
Cleveland has said it isn’t interested in trading Garrett at this time, though many reporters and analysts have questioned that position. And if the two-time DPOY becomes available, the Bears could absolutely look at ways to clear the space necessary to make an offer for him.