The Saints’ Secret Weapon? How Myles Garrett’s Cleveland Cold War Could Supercharge New Orleans
By [Your Name/News Wire Service]
NEW ORLEANS — In the heat of a Louisiana summer, the New Orleans Saints are preparing for a pivotal 2026 campaign. While the official depth chart won’t be released for months, a specter looms large over the Caesars Superdome that has nothing to do with voodoo or ghosts.
His name is Myles Garrett, and he might just be the most dangerous defensive weapon the Saints never had.
As the Cleveland Browns navigate an increasingly awkward offseason with their generational pass-rusher, the rumor mill in the NFL is churning with a singular, earth-shattering possibility: the Defensive Player of the Year, fresh off a 23-sack season, could be traded. And according to mounting speculation and favorable salary-cap logistics, the New Orleans Saints are emerging as a prime candidate to land him.
But how did the most dominant defensive player on the planet become available? And why do the Saints—a team often criticized for their “cap hell” and recent mediocrity—suddenly look like the favorites to land him? The answer lies in a chilly relationship 1,000 miles north, in Cleveland.
The Cold Shoulder in Cleveland
The trouble in the land of the Browns isn’t about money or performance; it is about relationships—specifically, the lack thereof.
Todd Monken has been the head coach of the Cleveland Browns since late January. Yet, nearly four months into his tenure, he still hasn’t held a face-to-face meeting with his team’s best player. When asked recently if he had finally sat down with the All-Pro defensive end, Monken’s answer was a terse, one-word reply: “No.”
This isn’t a simple case of scheduling conflicts. Garrett has been absent from voluntary OTAs, and the underlying tension is palpable. The friction stems from the Browns’ decision to hire Monken over the popular defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Garrett and the Browns’ defensive locker room were notoriously fond of Schwartz. When Schwartz was passed over for the top job—leading to his very public departure—Garrett signaled his displeasure with cryptic social media posts.
While Monken has tried to downplay the divide, telling reporters, “It’s voluntary… I wish they were here, but they’ll be ready,” the narrative has shifted dramatically. The Browns are entering a critical season, yet their franchise cornerstone is isolating himself from the new regime. For a Saints team that just watched the division-rival Atlanta Falcons load up, this is the opening they’ve been waiting for.
The Financial Alchemy of Mickey Loomis
For years, the national narrative surrounding the New Orleans Saints has been the same: “They are in salary cap hell. Their window is closed. They can’t afford anyone.”
If the Saints trade for Myles Garrett, throw that narrative in the trash compactor.
On paper, Garrett’s contract is enormous. He averages $40 million per year, a figure that would make most general managers choke on their gumbo. But this is where Saints GM Mickey Loomis earns his reputation as a cap magician. Recent adjustments to Garrett’s deal have made a post-June 1 trade not just feasible, but almost easy.
The Cleveland Browns, intentionally or not, restructured Garrett’s deal in a manner that makes his cap hit far more digestible for a acquiring team. The Saints are projected to have significant cap space in 2027 after years of “kicking the can down the road.” By converting base salary to signing bonuses and utilizing void years—a Loomis specialty—New Orleans could absorb Garrett’s salary without sacrificing the ability to sign their rookie class.
As one fan on a popular Saints forum put it: “Look at our cap outlook, we can absorb this if we wanted to. The financial angle is a non-factor.” For a team that has consistently pushed debt into the future to win now, Garrett is the ultimate “win now” piece.
A Defensive Renaissance
Let’s be clear: Myles Garrett is not just good. In 2025, he was historic.
Setting the single-season sack record with 23.5, Garrett is a one-man wrecking crew. Pairing him with Cam Jordan and the ascending Carl Granderson would instantly give the Saints the most terrifying defensive line in the National Football Conference.
Even the skeptics acknowledge the on-field fit is perfect. As one analyst noted during a recent discussion on the potential move: “Garrett opposite Young with Granderson coming off the bench would be nasty. Would probably make our defense top-5 or better.”
For new Saints defensive coordinator Joe Woods—who has faced Garrett twice a year during his time in the AFC North—the opportunity to finally coach him rather than scheme against him is a dream scenario. The Saints’ defense has been “bend-don’t-break” for too long. Garrett brings a “break the quarterback” mentality that has been missing since the prime of the “Dome Patrol.”
The Draft Pick Dilemma
Of course, no blockbuster trade happens without a hefty ransom. The price for a 30-year-old future Hall of Famer is rumored to start at two first-round draft picks.
This is the sticking point for the conservative faction of the Saints’ fanbase. New Orleans is in the midst of a retooling, or as some call it, a “rebuild.” They pick 8th overall in the upcoming draft. Trading away multiple premium picks for one player, even a player of Garrett’s caliber, flies in the face of conventional roster-building wisdom.
Critics argue that the Saints are “not one player away.” They point to holes at wide receiver, the offensive line, and depth in the secondary. They argue that trading for Garrett would leave the cupboard bare, replicating the mistakes of past regimes that traded away future assets for short-term gains. As one skeptic put it, “We are not bailing out the Browns and handing them our future for one player.”
However, the counter-argument is compelling: You draft hoping to find a player like Myles Garrett. There is no “prospect” in the 2026 draft class—not even Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr.—who guarantees you 23 sacks. A bird in the hand, as they say, is worth two in the bush.
The “Secret Weapon” Dynamic
So, why is this the Saints’ “secret” weapon?
Because the narrative around the team has been entirely consumed by their offense. Derek Carr’s future, the health of Alvin Kamara, and the development of Chris Olave dominate the headlines. While the world worries about the Saints’ ability to score points, General Manager Loomis is quietly monitoring the situation in Cleveland, waiting for the temperature to boil over.
The “secret” is the alignment of circumstances.
1. The Player Wants Out (Eventually): Garrett is 30. He has broken the single-season record. He has his DPOY trophies. Does he really want to stick around for a coaching staff that didn’t pick him and a team whose Super Bowl window is currently boarded up? The lack of communication suggests he doesn’t.
2. The Saints’ Schedule & Exposure: The NFL just announced the Saints will play in the first-ever regular-season game in Paris, France. The league wants stars on the global stage. Myles Garrett in a Saints uniform in Paris is a marketing dream. There is immense pressure on the franchise to make a “splash.”
3. The Quiet Cap Space: While the media laughs at the Saints’ “restructures,” they fail to realize that Loomis has been borrowing from the future specifically for a move like this. The contracts are structured so that a massive acquisition can fit.
The Bottom Line
It is still May. June 1 marks a significant date for the Browns’ cap flexibility, and June 9 is the start of mandatory minicamp. If Garrett skips mandatory camp—a distinct possibility given his current silence—the Browns will lose their leverage entirely. At that point, it is no longer a question of “if” they trade him, but “to whom.”
The New Orleans Saints have the cap creativity, the positional need, and the aggressive front office to make the call. They have a head coach in Dennis Allen, a defensive savant, who knows that his job security depends on winning now. Handing Allen a weapon like Garrett is the ultimate “ace in the hole.”
For the rest of the NFC South, the idea of Myles Garrett screaming off the edge of the Superdome turf twice a year is a nightmare. For the Who Dat Nation, it is the secret weapon they have been praying for.
The Browns haven’t pulled the trigger yet. But in the NFL, silence from a star player speaks louder than words. And in New Orleans, that silence sounds like the countdown to a Super Bowl run.
