Once Myles Garrett announced that he had requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns, speculation ran wild about where the star edge rusher could land.
One of the main reasons Garrett is seeking a trade is his desire to play for a legitimate championship contender.
It’s always, for me, been about competing for championships,” Garrett said.
Former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert took to social media on Wednesday to share his thoughts on where he would like to see Garrett land.
“I’d like to see the Commanders or Falcons pursue Myles Garrett,” Benkert wrote. “I don’t know the cap situation, but the cap is fake anyway.”
It’s unclear exactly what Benkert meant regarding the NFL’s salary cap, but his suggestion would seem to favor the Washington Commanders over the Atlanta Falcons.
Washington is heading into the offseason with the third-highest cap space in the league at $68.4 million. On the other hand, the Falcons are currently $14.5 million over the cap, per Over the Cap. While that doesn’t necessarily rule Atlanta out, it gives the Commanders at least two significant advantages.
The other factor is team trajectory. Washington appears far closer to contention than Atlanta. The Falcons haven’t made the playoffs in seven seasons, while the Commanders—led by NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels—came within one game of reaching Super Bowl 59.
It also doesn’t bode well for the Falcons that Garrett has already spoken about how well he would fit in with the Commanders.
“I think they need a pass rusher,” Garrett said, per Sports Illustrated. “I think that’s something they dearly missed when they were in the playoffs and some of the big games. And I feel like I can fill that role.”
If the Browns ultimately decide to trade Garrett—despite previously stating they would not—the four-time All-Pro would likely have a say in his destination. Given the circumstances, Washington appears to be in a far better position than Atlanta to land him.
Benkert didn’t elaborate on why he singled out the Commanders and Falcons as potential landing spots for Garrett. However, his history with Atlanta, having spent three years with the team as a practice squad member, may have played a role in his selection.
