Star defensive end Myles Garrett is staying with the Cleveland Browns after all. The two sides have agreed to a record extension that will make Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league’s history.
The Browns announced Garrett signed a four-year extension but didn’t disclose the financial terms of the agreement. Multiple reports say that the deal is worth $160 million, giving Garrett an annual salary of $40 million, and comes with $123.5 million in guaranteed money and a no-trade clause.
Garrett handed in a trade request earlier this year, saying that he wanted to join a team that would compete for a Super Bowl. At the time, the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year indicated that a new contract offer wouldn’t change his stance.
However, the Browns remained adamant that they had no intention of trading Garrett and rejected advances from other teams. Instead, they focused on presenting Garrett with their vision for the future of the franchise and handed him a contract offer that, it turned out, he couldn’t refuse.
Myles Garrett established himself as one of the best defensive players in the NFL since the Browns selected him first overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He made six Pro Bowls and earned four First-team All-Pro selections while racking up 102.5 sacks.
However, Garrett only made the playoffs twice with the Browns and had to endure several disappointing seasons including the last one, in which Cleveland went 3-14.
