What the Myles Garrett Trade Teaches Us About Retaining Top Talent
The NFL world is still reeling from the blockbuster trade sending two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the LA Rams.
On paper, it makes you scratch your head.
Didn’t Cleveland just sign him to a massive extension after he originally signaled he wanted out? Why would they let a generational talent walk now?
Because in business — just like in football — a massive counteroffer is often just a corporate band-aid.
It buys time. It doesn’t fix the underlying trust.
There are always two sides to an ultimatum:
The Employee’s Side: You feel undervalued, or the culture isn’t working, so you push for change. When management throws an unprecedented pile of money at you to stay, it feels like a victory.
But deep down, you know the truth — they only valued you after you threatened to walk. The original frustrations haven’t changed.
The Employer’s Side: Losing a star performer unexpectedly causes panic. The counteroffer extension goes out to protect the business and steady the ship.
But once that ultimatum is delivered, the dynamic shifts forever. Leadership starts asking: “Can we truly rely on them long-term — or do we need a replacement strategy?”
The Reality of Counteroffers:
Research shows 80% of employees who accept a counteroffer leave within 6 months anyway.
Why? Because feelings can’t be mended by a transaction.
Cleveland got their stopgap. Garrett got his record-breaking season. But eventually, the structural reality caught up — Cleveland pivoted to Jared Verse and draft capital, and Garrett got his shot at a Super Bowl contender.
Money can delay a breakup. It can’t cure a misalignment of vision.
If you have to hold an organization hostage to get what you’re worth — or if you have to overpay someone just to keep them from walking out the door — the relationship is already over.
You’re just negotiating the departure date.
What are your thoughts on how the Garrett trade played out? Do you think counteroffers ever truly heal the organizational rift?
👇 Drop your take below.
#Leadership #TalentRetention #CompanyCulture #BusinessStrategy #NFL #MylesGarrett
