Key keywords: Myles Garrett trade, Dallas Cowboys trade targets, Cleveland Browns contract controversy, 2024 NFL offseason moves, Myles Garrett contract restructure, Cowboys pass rush upgrade, NFL trade rumors 2024, NFL salary cap management The long-rumored possibility of the Dallas Cowboys trading for elite defensive end Myles Garrett has reignited across NFL circles this week, after the Cleveland Browns announced a controversial contract restructure for the four-time All-Pro that dramatically lowers the financial barrier to a potential 2024 or 2025 trade. Under the terms of the newly adjusted deal, the Browns converted $19.8 million of Garrett’s 2024 base salary into a signing bonus, clearing nearly $20 million in immediate salary cap space for the franchise’s 2024 roster builds. While Cleveland’s front office initially framed the move as a commitment to keeping Garrett long-term, NFL cap analysts quickly noted the restructure cuts the dead cap hit for trading Garrett ahead of the 2025 league year to just $7.2 million, a tiny fraction of the $40+ million hit that would have applied under the original contract terms. For the Cowboys, who have openly targeted a high-impact pass rusher to pair with Defensive Player of the Year candidate Micah Parsons for the past two offseasons, the development makes a Garrett trade far more feasible than ever before. Dallas finished the 2023 season ranked 18th in the league in team sack rate, and struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks in their NFC Wild Card loss to the Green Bay Packers. Team owner Jerry Jones has a well-documented history of pursuing splashy, high-profile trades to upgrade the Cowboys’ roster ahead of supposed championship windows, and Garrett, a Texas native who has publicly spoken about his desire to play in his home state at multiple points in his career, fits that mold perfectly. Cap analysts confirm the Cowboys have roughly $17.5 million in available 2024 salary cap space, enough to absorb Garrett’s 2024 cap hit without making additional corresponding cuts, and hold over $60 million in projected 2025 cap space to accommodate the remaining years of his deal. League insiders report the Cowboys could offer a trade package headlined by a 2025 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and young defensive end Sam Williams to Cleveland, a haul that would align with the Browns’ current rebuild priorities as they look to accumulate high draft capital to support quarterback Deshaun Watson. While Cleveland’s official statement continues to reject trade speculation, multiple NFL front office executives told ESPN this week that the Browns would be “hard pressed” to turn down a trade offer of that caliber for a player who will turn 29 years old before the start of the 2025 season. If completed, the trade would immediately make the Cowboys’ defensive line the most feared in the NFL, with Parsons and Garrett combining for an average of 29 sacks per season over the past three years, and push Dallas to the top of most early 2025 Super Bowl favorite lists.