Could 49ers Make a Move for Myles Garrett?

“Would Myles Garrett fit with the San Francisco 49ers?” That’s not really the question. The real question is if a player of Garrett’s caliber even might be available, how can you justify not at least exploring it?

That conversation has picked up steam after the Cleveland Browns reworked Garrett’s contract this week. On the surface, it’s a standard restructure for moving money around, buying time, and creating flexibility. But this is the offseason, and flexibility tends to invite speculation.

Garrett was originally due a significant option bonus, which has now been pushed back closer to the regular season. More importantly, the reworked deal could make it easier for another team to absorb his contract in a potential trade. So naturally, the question becomes could the 49ers actually get involved? The answer is simple, they should.

This is a team firmly in win now mode. With a core built around Brock Purdy, George Kittle, CMC, Nick Bosa, and Fred Warner, the window is urgent. And after an offseason that already included adding Mike Evans, San Francisco has made it clear they’re willing to take big swings and adding Garrett would be the biggest of them all.

Even with Bosa in place, the 49ers have question marks along the defensive line. Bosa is coming off an injury, and there’s uncertainty about how quickly the unit will return to full strength. Pairing him with Garrett would immediately eliminate those concerns. It wouldn’t just be good, it would be unfair.

An edge group featuring Bosa and Garrett would instantly become the most dominant pass rushing duo in the NFL. It would elevate everyone around them, from the interior defensive line to the secondary, and give defensive coordinator Raheem Morris endless flexibility in how he attacks opposing offenses.

And that’s what makes this so intriguing and worth it for the 49ers to put their name in the ring. The 49ers wouldn’t just be adding a great player. They’d be changing the entire identity of their defense. Of course, there are obstacles. Garrett does have a no trade clause, meaning he controls where he goes. Any deal would likely require a massive haul of draft capital. And San Francisco would have to be comfortable committing significant financial resources to a player entering his 30s. But this is where context matters.

The NFC is competitive, especially the NFC West division. Teams like the Rams and Seahawks are continuing to build, and standing still isn’t an option. If a player like Garrett becomes even remotely available, you chance it and get aggressive because opportunities like this don’t come around often.

Would it be expensive? Absolutely. Would it be risky? Also yes. But if the 49ers are serious about maximizing their Super Bowl window, it’s the kind of move that could put them over the top. For now it’s all speculation, but speculation is where big moves begin.