Texans' Will Anderson Jr. gives Browns' Myles Garrett ammo for pay raise amid trade rumors

Earlier this week, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano raised eyebrows when he said at the time that he thought it was "more likely that" Cleveland Browns star pass-rusher Myles Garrett "gets another contract bump from the Browns" this offseason than gets traded to an advertised Super Bowl contender. 

That supposed bump just got more expensive for either the Browns or a different club. 

Myles Garrett may have millions of reasons to thank Will Anderson Jr.

On Friday afternoon, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport revealed that the Houston Texans and edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. have agreed to a three-year, $150M extension that includes $134M guaranteed and a non-trade clause. The deal makes Anderson the new highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, but it remains to be seen how long he'll hold that title. 

ESPN stats show that Anderson, the third overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, ended this past regular season tied for eighth in the league with 12 total sacks. To compare, Garrett set a new official single-season record of 23 sacks en route to becoming a two-time Defensive Player of the Year Award winner. The 30-year-old who doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon signed a four-year, $160M extension last offseason shortly after he went public with a trade request. 

How could Will Anderson Jr. impact Myles Garrett's future?

Multiple recent reports repeated that it's difficult to ignore that the Browns and Garrett agreeing to change when option bonuses attached to his contract will be paid out makes it easier for the team to trade him after June 1 of this year. On Thursday, Browns general manager Andrew Berry left the door open for a possible trade that would result in Cleveland moving up from the sixth overall pick of the 2026 draft.

The Browns presumably could target either a replacement for Garrett or Notre Dame Fighting Irish star running back Jeremiyah Love with a top-five, top-four or top-three pick. Assuming Graziano is correct and Garrett was already headed toward receiving a pay raise, the future Hall of Famer may want to send Anderson some sort of thank-you gift following Friday's developments.