Myles Garrett
A month after asking to be traded, Myles Garrett signs a record contract extension with the Cleveland Browns, which includes $123 million in guaranteed money and makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
With an NFL record contract extension worth $40 million annually, Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett became the highest-paid non-quarterback in history.
After asking for a trade in February, Myles Garrett’s new contract, which is for four years and includes $123 million in guaranteed money, provides answers to questions about his future.
Details of the extension, which includes a no-trade clause and totals $204,796,125 when combined with the two years left on his current contract, were confirmed by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
With his extension, Garrett surpasses Maxx Crosby, a pass rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders, who recently inked a three-year, $106.5 million contract worth $35.5 million annually.
First overall selection in 2017 Since joining the league, Garrett has amassed 102.5 sacks in 117 games over eight seasons; the only player with more sacks during that time is TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Before winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, Myles Garrett recorded a career-high 16 sacks in 2021 and 2022.
As Cleveland fell to a 3-14 record at the bottom of the AFC North, he finished the 2024 season with a total of 47 tackles, 14 sacks, and three forced fumbles.
The 29-year-old has established himself as one of the most dominant pass rushers in league history, earning him six Pro Bowl selections and four First Team All-Pro honors. Notably, he is the first individual in history to manage at least 14 sacks in four consecutive campaigns.
After ending their 18-year postseason drought in 2020 behind quarterback Baker Mayfield and quarterback Garrett, Cleveland thought they had begun a new era of perennial playoff contention. They advanced to the Divisional Round before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
After making the poor choice to cut Mayfield in favor of giving Deshaun Watson a five-year, $230 million contract that would turn out to be among the worst in history prior to the 2022 season, the Browns missed out on the playoffs for the following two seasons. Watson, who has experienced numerous injury setbacks, was unable to find the form that was in place before he was suspended due to several accusations of sexual harassment.
After winning Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco and Defensive Player of the Year Garrett in 2023, Cleveland made a comeback to the postseason, but they fell behind again the previous season.
Garrett emphasized his “desire to win” in order to join a contender, which led him to ask for a trade on February 3.
He has now made a U-turn and pledged his future to the Browns.
Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys, a pass rusher who is also due a sizable pay day and may become the highest-paid non-quarterback in history, is also under scrutiny in light of Garrett’s huge new contract.
