In the end, money talked.
The new deal puts Garrett under contract for the next six seasons. Along with getting his annual average to $40 million, the new pact includes $100 million in the first three years, $1 million in yearly workout bonuses and $88.8 million in execution guarantees, per Rapoport and Pelissero.
Funny enough, the deal also includes a no-trade clause.
Throughout the process, the Browns were staunchly insistent that they had zero intentions of trading the former AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Andrew Berry rebuffed every question on the subject and reportedly wouldn’t even discuss the matter with other clubs during the NFL Scouting Combine.
As Garrett’s side ramped up the push to get a trade, Berry’s commitment sometimes felt like a negotiating tactic. Ultimately, the steadfast pledge not to trade his best player proved true.
The Browns were always ready to pay Garrett top dollar. The club came through, blasting past Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby‘s new deal from just four days prior and completely resetting the market. Garrett is undoubtedly worth the coin, generating 44.0 sacks over the past three seasons, the most over that span in the NFL.
Garrett’s new deal could have a cascading effect around the NFL. For example, if Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase insists on becoming the highest-paid non-QB — not just the highest-paid wide receiver — that figure jumped from high-$30-plus-million to $40 million. How will Micah Parsons, who has said he doesn’t need top-dollar, react to the new deal?
When making his trade request public early this year, Garrett insisted his main goal was chasing Lombardi Trophies, not going from Cleveland to Canton.
That path from a Browns jersey to a Gold Jacket is back on.
“Andrew Berry and I spent the last 36 hours getting the deal done, basically,” Garrett’s agent, Nicole Lynn, told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com on Sunday. “Myles had a change of heart and he’s excited to go from Cleveland to Canton and chase a championship in Ohio.
“When he made that decision, he said ‘I want to get this done before free agency so I can start recruiting free agents, so I can help the team.’ And I said ‘alright, we have 24 hours to get this done’ and we did it.”
