Patrick Mahomes and Christian McCaffery aren’t the only players earning themselves a hefty paycheck to aid their pockets.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Cleveland Browns are finalizing a five-year extension worth $125 million with star pass-rusher Myles Garrett.
Details on the extension for the #Browns and Myles Garrett: In his rather large 5-year, $125M extension, there are $100M in total guarantees and $50M fully guaranteed at signing. He’s now under contract 2026. https://t.co/873RKFYdbk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 14, 2020
The 24-year-old is expected to sign the contract within the next week, possibly as early as Wednesday if he passes a physical on Tuesday.
This new blockbuster deal would make Garrett the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, averaging $25 million per year once official. The current leader is Chicago Bears All-Pro pass-rusher Khalil Mack, who is earning $23.5 million a year after signing a six-year extension with the team as soon as the then-Oakland Raiders traded him for four draft picks in 2018.
Garrett is guaranteed $50 million once he signs the dotted line but will be on the receiving end $100 million in total guaranteed money. The 2017 No. 1 pick entered the 2020 offseason with two years remaining on his current rookie contract after the Browns picked up his fifth-year option.
In his young career, the Texas A&M product has started 35 out of 37 total games, posting an average of 30.5 sacks, 32 tackles for loss and 65 quarterback hits. During the 2019 season, Garrett had 10 sacks in 10 games but was suspended for the final six games and fined $50,000 for ripping the helmet off Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and hitting him with it at the end of their Nov. 14 game. The NFL reinstated Garrett on Feb. 12.
The 6-foot-4, 272-pound defensive end’s 30.5 sacks is the most collected by a Browns player in his first three seasons and lack of presence hurt Cleveland. The Browns went 2-4 without Garrett to finish the season, missing the postseason.
The Browns are scheduled to start training camp on July 28 while awaiting the NFL’s guidance and decisions regarding new health and safety protocols due to the coronavirus pandemic.
