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The Cleveland Browns are closing in on a deal that could keep Myles Garrett under contract through 2026. The two sides are closing in on a deal that would be for five years and worth up to $125 million, according to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport.
Garrett was set to enter the fourth year of his rookie contract after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2017. He was due $4,612,125 this year, and the Browns held the fifth year option on him, which was worth $15,124,000 in 2021. Based on Rapoport’s reporting, this would be tacked onto the end of those two years.
The news comes shortly after word that the Kansas City Chiefs signed defensive lineman Chris Jones to a four-year deal worth $85 million. Garrett’s $25 million average per year tops Khalil Mack’s record $23.5 million for most for a defensive player in NFL history. At the same time, we don’t know what kind of guarantees will be included in the deal. They will likely be significant, but they will almost assuredly not top $100 million, and some of them will be rolling meaning they don’t become fully guaranteed until one or more years after signing.
Garrett enters the 2020 season coming off a suspension for fighting with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. The suspension was initially indefinite, but ended up being for six games when he was reinstated this offseason.