As a high-profile quarterback battle dominates the headlines around the Cleveland Browns, Myles Garrett has faded into the background.
Just four months ago, the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year caused a stir at the end of a dismal season.
Garrett released a statement in February confirming he had requested a trade from the Browns, after finishing 3-14 in 2024, citing a desire to challenge for Super Bowls.
But after Cleveland made it clear they wanted to keep their star, who is regarded as league’s top pass-rusher, the two parties agreed on a four-year, $160million contract extension.
A massive $123.5m of that is guaranteed and hands Garrett an average salary of $40m per year.
Clearly, money talks.
News of Garrett’s new deal left plenty of fans shocked when it was announced back in March, and it even caught longtime Browns insider Tony Grossi by surprise, given everything that had happened in the weeks prior.
“I’ve never seen a player campaign to be traded as much as him,” Grossi exclusively told talkSPORT’s Brian T. Smith.
“You know, it was during Super Bowl week, media row. He went from one table to another.
“Then the day of the Super Bowl, he went on the ESPN pre-game show and added to it.”
Despite all the noise, Garrett soon had a change of heart and signed that record-breaking contract extension.
His agent suggested that 36 hours of talks with general manager Andrew Berry helped get the deal done, and that the star defender was excited to ‘chase a championship in Ohio’.
Garrett signed a record-breaking deal soon after announcing his desire to leaveGettyGrossi, however, believes money was the deciding factor.
The insider continued: “So, he did a 180, and you know, a $160m contract for four years can change anyone’s mind, and I think that’s what it came down to.
“That can change anyone’s mind to do anything.
“Myles has tried to suggest that he talked with Andrew Berry and he liked what he heard from the plans.
“Well, shortly after he agreed to his new contract they traded for Kenny Pickett and everyone thought, ‘Are you kidding me? You’re doing this for Kenny Pickett?’
“So it was the money.”
Browns insider Grossi has suggested money was the reason Garrett stayedGettyGrossi went on to suggest that the Browns perhaps made a mistake in keeping hold of their franchise star, and should have been willing to listen to offers for him.
Instead, they made Garrett one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL history, and will need to see a quick return on the field in 2025.
That added pressure could weigh heavily on the 29-year-old, according to Grossi.
“The Browns were steadfast in not trading them. Myself, I thought they should have done what the Houston Texans did with Deshaun Watson,” he explained.
“Just open it up and say, ‘Listen, this player is available. Come to us with your best offer and we’ll let you negotiate with them.’
“That was the template for what they could have done. But the Browns decided he’s a franchise defensive end, probably the best in the league.
“So, Myles is in the mindset now, and they’re putting this kind of pressure on him, that he has to go out and have his best season.
“You know, ‘We paid you a lot of money and you went through all this stuff.’ And they drafted a defensive tackle for the first time who has All-Pro potential that (defensive coordinator) Jim Schwartz is used to having on his four man line.
Garrett will be under pressure to perform after his big money extensionGettyHIGHEST PAID NON-QUARTERBACKS IN NFL
Garrett's new deal with the Browns puts him amongst the NFL's best-paid non-QBs (ranked by annual salary)
Ja’Marr Chase – Cincinnati Bengals – $40,250,000Myles Garrett – Cleveland Browns – $40,000,000Danielle Hunter – Houston Texans – $35,600,000Maxx Crosby – Las Vegas Raiders – $35,500,000Justin Jefferson – Minnesota Vikings – $35,000,000CeeDee Lamb – Dallas Cowboys – $34,000,000Nick Bosa – San Francisco 49ers – $34,000,000DK Metcalf – Pittsburgh Steelers – $33,000,000A.J. Brown – Philadelphia Eagles – $32,000,000Chris Jones -Kansas City Chiefs – $31,750,000
“His name is Mason Graham, and that will have a big impact on Myles’s season, I believe.”
While the Browns are no doubt strong defensively heading into 2025 with Garrett, questions remain over what they can do on offense.
Quarterback Watson, who signed a $230m deal in 2022, is likely to miss most of the season.
Veteran Joe Flacco has returned, and leads a QB room with Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders battling to be his backup.
The Browns have a four-way battle for the starting QB role ahead of 2025GettyOnly time will tell if any of those names have enough to deliver the kind of wins that Garrett and the Browns front office have been craving for so long.
But if the team struggles again in 2025, the $160m man might soon regret his decision to stay in Cleveland.
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