Top-ranked Myles Garrett Signs with Washington Commanders in Stunning Homecoming
In one of the most shocking moves of the NFL offseason, All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett has signed with the Washington Commanders, marking a surprise homecoming for the top-ranked pass rusher. The deal, announced late Sunday evening, brings Garrett back to the DMV area, where he spent part of his youth before heading to Texas A&M for college.
Garrett, 29, had spent his entire NFL career with the Cleveland Browns since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2017. He has earned five Pro Bowl selections, multiple First-Team All-Pro honors, and was widely considered the most dominant defensive player in the league not named Aaron Donald. Now, after years of anchoring Cleveland’s defense, he’s heading south to join a Commanders squad in the middle of a dramatic rebuild.
A Homecoming and a Statement
While Garrett isn’t a D.C. native—he was born in Arlington, Texas—sources close to the player say the move “feels like a homecoming” due to family ties in the region and offseason training based in Northern Virginia. “This is where I’ve wanted to be,” Garrett said in a brief press statement. “There’s something special brewing here, and I’m excited to be part of it.”
The Commanders made an aggressive push for Garrett after rumors swirled that he was unhappy in Cleveland following the team’s disappointing 2024 season. According to league insiders, Washington offered a six-year deal worth $240 million, with $170 million guaranteed—a record-setting contract for a non-quarterback.
The Fit in Washington
Garrett’s arrival is a massive win for new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, who is known for his defensive acumen. Pairing Garrett with up-and-coming talents like Jamin Davis and Emmanuel Forbes gives the team a potentially elite front seven, capable of transforming Washington’s defense overnight.
“We’re building a team that can compete now,” said Quinn during a press conference Monday morning. “Myles changes the math. Offenses have to plan around him.”
Garrett’s role is expected to mirror what Micah Parsons did under Quinn in Dallas—disruptive, versatile, and central to the entire scheme. With the Commanders also holding the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, the franchise may be closer to contention than previously believed.
Cleveland’s Loss, Washington’s Gain
The Browns, who just last season declared Garrett “untouchable,” reportedly made a last-minute push to retain him. But it wasn’t enough. “This wasn’t about money,” said one anonymous source close to Garrett. “He wanted a new challenge. He wanted to win.”
Garrett leaves Cleveland as the franchise’s all-time sack leader and the heart of a defense that carried the Browns to multiple playoff appearances. His departure marks the end of an era—and the beginning of a bold new chapter in Washington.
As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on Ashburn. Myles Garrett has arrived, and with him comes a sense of urgency, power, and perhaps—finally—hope.
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