Myles Garrett. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Browns, 2023 DPOY agree to record-setting extension

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Mar 9, 2025 1:30 PM ET

In February, Cleveland Browns edge-rusher Myles Garrett requested a trade. It must have been all about the money.

On Sunday, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted the Browns and Garrett agreed to a contract extension that averages $40M annually and includes $123.5M guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Schefter added the deal has a no-trade clause and keeps Garrett under contract with the club through the 2030 season.

The contract also includes a no-trade clause and ties Garrett to the Browns through the 2030 season. The path from Cleveland to Canton is back on as Garrett continues his pursuit of a championship for the team that drafted No. 1 overall in 2017. https://t.co/273Tuwt02T
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2025

Garrett's extension comes after NFL Media's Tom Pelissero tweeted Friday that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam had refused to meet with the edge-rusher and that Garrett was prepared to miss regular-season games.

"You know, this is all about football," Garrett told Sirius XM's Zach Gelb on Feb. 5. "It's not about attaining money or another contract. I just want to play meaningful football at the end of the year, be playing into January and February and having that feeling of holding [the Lombardi Trophy]."

Garrett's chances of winning his first Super Bowl in Cleveland still seem low. He has played in the playoffs only twice in eight seasons with the Browns. Last season, Cleveland went 3-14.

On March 1, The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported the Philadelphia Eagles had "real interest" in Garrett. However, the reigning Super Bowl champions probably couldn't have offered him a mega-deal.

Spotrac's salary cap tracker estimates the Eagles have $18.24M in cap room. Philadelphia also has key players it may want to re-sign this offseason, including defensive lineman Milton Williams and edge-rusher Josh Sweat.

Regardless, Cleveland keeping Garrett is a win for the club. Since being drafted No. 1 overall by Cleveland in 2017, the 29-year-old has earned four first-team All-Pro nods and won 2023 Defensive Player of the Year. Per Pro Football Reference, he ranks eighth among active players in sacks (102.5).

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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