Browns receive high offseason grade from ESPN thanks to 'home run' Myles Garrett trade

The Cleveland Browns might have been going through some very bleak seasons ever since the disastrous Deshaun Watson trade, but there is starting to be some optimism recently.

Their 2025 offseason was a fantastic one, specifically with their great draft class. Now, a year later, the Browns' 2026 offseason, between free agency, trades, and the draft, received some high praise.

ESPN's Seth Walder handed out a high "B+" grade to the Browns for their offseason, thanks in large part to the "home run" that was the Myles Garrett trade.

Browns receive 'B+' grade for offseason thanks to Myles Garrett trade

"Cleveland Browns: B+," Walder writes. "It has been awfully bleak in Cleveland the past couple of seasons, but the decision to trade away a franchise icon could be what jump-starts a turnaround. ...this was an unquestioned home run for Cleveland."

The Browns' decision to trade Garrett was a huge one, and not made lightly. It confirmed that this team is not contending this year, or likely in 2027 either.

Instead, it is fully committed to a rebuild. In return, the Browns got Jared Verse, a good young edge rusher to take Garrett's place on the roster, while adding a 2027 first-rounder, a 2028 second-rounder, and a 2029 third-rounder.

Walder is a big fan of this trade for the Browns, even though they're trading away maybe the best defensive player in franchise history, and the best active defensive player in the league.

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But, with a revamped offensive line and some fantastic draft picks, with Spencer Fano, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, and Emmanuel McNeill-Warren in the first two rounds, there's a lot of optimism with this Browns roster right now.

The Browns only didn't receive an "A" grade from Walder for their lack of addressing the quarterback room to get a better starter, and their oddly large investments into Zion Johnson and Tytus Howard, a pair of mediocre offensive linemen.

However, overall, the Browns' offseason was a wildly successful one, and the Browns fanbase should have some optimism for the franchise going forward, for what seems like the first time in a very long while.

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