Grade the trade idea: Acquiring Myles Garrett propels Jaguars into playoff contention

The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't doing great this season. They're coming off a win against the New England Patriots but still have a long way to go to catch up to the Houston Texans. On the bright side, there are a handful of teams that are in even worse shape than the Jags. The Cleveland Browns are one of them, and if their losses keep piling up, they could be sellers ahead of the trade deadline. One of their players who's already garnered interest is star pass rusher Myles Garrett.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated points out in Week 7 takeaways that teams have been calling Cleveland to inquire about Garrett. However, he doesn't think the Browns will move the five-time Pro Bowl nod and suggests that edge rusher Za'Darius Smith and offensive tackle Jack Conklin might be more realistic trade targets.

The Browns are 1-6. They just lost starting quarterback Deshaun Watson to a season-ending ACL injury and seem like a long shot to make the playoffs Coincidentally, their only win came against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2.

Apart from losing Watson, Cleveland has also been dealing with injuries in the offensive trenches. Nick Harris and James Hudson III are on the Injured Reserve while Conklin himself left Week 7 with an undisclosed injury. Things have gotten so dire that Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report believes they should trade for Jacksonville offensive tackle Walker Little.

But if the Browns are ready to throw in the towel, they could be incentivized to shed cap space and acquire future assets. If that's the case, Myles Garrett would be a hot commodity ahead of the deadline.

Landing Myles Garrett would be a dream come true for the Jaguars

Now, it's hard to see the Cleveland Browns moving on Myles Garrett anytime soon. After all, he's one of their franchise cornerstones. But for the sake of the argument, let's say they place him on the trade block. He would cost more than a first-round selection when you take into account that he's one of the top 3 pass rushers in the league.

The Jags most definitely have the resources to make a trade happen. It would be a bit expensive but it would be worth it. The front office could put together a package that includes a first-round pick, a third-rounder, and Walker Little. They have an extra third-round selection after moving down six spots in the 2024 NFL draft. Similarly, they could afford to part ways with Walker Little because they have Cam Robinson and rookie Javon Foster in the fold.

By acquiring Garrett, the Jags' pass rushers would go from dominant to absolutely terrifying. Imagine him playing opposite Josh Hines-Allen and rotating with Travon Walker to increase their efficiency.

While the offense is (finally) hitting its stride, the defense has left much to be desired. One big reason is that their pass-rush rotation isn't that great. Walker and Hines-Allen are playing at a high level but could use a No. 3 that could spell them from time to time. Defensive tackle Arik Armstead has been lining on the edge, but if the Jags traded for Garrett, he could play on the interior, where he's at his best.

And by addressing a glaring need, the Jacksonville Jaguars would have a strong chance of getting back on track and positioning themselves for a playoff run. That's how much of an impact Myles Garrett would have in Duval.

More Jaguars analysis here: