Just when it seemed Myles Garrett’s future with the Cleveland Browns was most in doubt, the two sides have agreed to a monstrous contract extension to make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history. He passes Maxx Crosby on the list, who inked a contract to make him the highest paid non-quarterback just four days ago.
This is a monstrous extension that ties Garrett to the Browns through 2030 and includes a no-trade clause. The deal is worth $40 million on average and comes out to $122.8 in guaranteed money.
This extension comes at the point where it seemed the relationship between the Browns and Garrett was its most fractured. Reports surfaced just two days ago that Browns’ owner Jimmy Haslam declined Garrett’s request to meet with him and just over a month since he requested a trade.
There is no doubt the caliber of talent that Garrett is. The former Defensive Player of the Year has tallied 10.0 or more sacks in each of the past seven years and led the NFL last season with 22 tackles for a loss last year. His high level of talent is why Cleveland was so dug in on not granting his trade request. Garrett has taken the stance that he wants to be in a winning situation, but this sum of money has seemingly changed things.
Garrett will now return to his path of building with the Browns, who still have plenty to address this offseason. Cleveland will be looking to bounce back from its 3-14 season last year. The Browns hold the second pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and have plenty of questions to address regarding the future of Deshaun Watson at quarterback. They did restructure Watson’s contract this offseason to create $34.8 million in cap space but must invest this money in positions outside of just Garrett if the results are to improve.
This puts a surprising bow on one of the larger stories of this NFL offseason with Garrett no longer on the trade block. The no-trade clause is a notable part of this contract and it will be interesting to see if Garrett’s desire to leave pops up again at any point during this deal.
As things currently stand, there is not much optimism for Cleveland returning to the playoffs. It is tied with the Jets for the second-longest odds of winning the AFC at +7500 on DraftKings Sportsbook and holds the fourth-best odds of winning the AFC North at +3000.
Getting Garrett’s situation settled was step one of the offseason, but the Browns still have plenty of work to do.
