Cleveland Browns officially modify Myles Garrett's contract

Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, started his career with the Cleveland Browns in 2017.

He was the No. 1 overall pick for the Browns in that 2017 draft, and the Browns are hoping he'll finish his career in Cleveland. 

That's why they gave him a four-year contract extension worth $160 million. He's slated to be in Cleveland through the 2030 season, when he'll be nearly 35.

Garrett very well could end up as a Brown for life, so it's not all that surprising that he agreed to modified language in the aforementioned contract that will help out the Browns a bit.

That agreement became official on Wednesday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.

Per Yates, the option bonuses in Garrett's contract from 2026 through 2028 will be pushed back to seven days before the regular season of each of the respective campaigns. Previously, they were to be exercised by the 15th day of the league year (which would be in late March).

The Browns modified the payment of those option bonuses to benefit Garrett, and they also changed his $8 million salary in 2029 and 2030 into roster bonuses that will be due early in each of those respective league years.

Cleveland Browns get some cap flexibility by modifying Myles Garrett's contract 

These changes allow the Browns to be a bit more flexible with cap space moving forward, and that's important considering how much salary cap space Garrett's contract is taking.

He's set to count about $24 million against the cap in 2026, but that number balloons to nearly $65 million by 2029.

Garrrett is well worth it, of course. 

Last season, he set the NFL's single-season sack record with 23. He's a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, a five-time All-Pro and one of the greatest to ever rush the passer in NFL history.

Heading into 2026, Garrett already has 125.5 career sacks.