The Cleveland Browns are in negotiations with star defensive end Myles Garrett on a massive contract extension.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the news Friday morning:
Cleveland Browns and Myles Garrett have engaged in contract discussions, per sources, setting the stage for a potential mega-extension this summer. The former No. 1 overall pick has two years left on his rookie deal, and Cleveland could get ahead of a pricey pass-rush market.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 12, 2020
Investing in Myles Garrett
As Fowler reported, Garrett is signed with the Browns through the 2021 season.
But the Browns lead the league in cap space and have the resources to extend Garrett now.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier in the offseason that Garrett could become the first pass rusher to command $25 million on a new deal.
Garrett will make $9.6 million in 2020.
#Browns GM Andrew Berry told RapSheet + Friends (https://t.co/CiKkY8tVHv) that he hopes Myles Garrett is with the #Browns for years to come. Why a long-term extension makes sense 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/Xfe6oebpQU
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 5, 2020
Rapoport went on to quote Browns GM Andrew Berry:
“Loves Myles Garrett as a person. Loves Myles Garrett as a player.”
Timing A Garrett Extension
Jeremy Fowler eluded to a pricey pass-rush market in the next two years.
Khalil Mack is currently the highest-paid pass-rusher in the league at $23.5 million per year.
He’s followed by Demarcus Lawrence, Frank Clark and Von Miller in the $19-21 million per year range.
The list of talented pass rushers set to hit the free agency market in 2021 and 2022 is long:
Joey Bosa – Los Angeles Chargers
Yannick Ngakoue – Jacksonville Jaguars
Shaq Barrett – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bud Dupree – Pittsburgh Steelers
Solomon Thomas – San Francisco 49ers
Bradley Chubb – Denver Broncos
Locking up Garrett now would avoid having his deal be affected by the others.
Highest pass rush grade: EDGE
1. T.J. Watt
2. Myles Garrett
3. Joey Bosa
4. Chandler Jones pic.twitter.com/qPDQuvzBhS— PFF (@PFF) February 8, 2020
Plus, it would give the Browns clarity on their defensive future while the above teams have a less clear picture.
Garrett’s Role On The Browns Defense
We’ve written extensively about the dominance of Myles Garrett when he’s on the field.
No. 29 on the PFF50:
Myles Garrett pic.twitter.com/u89AIN339s
— PFF (@PFF) May 31, 2020
He was recently ranked as the number one disruptor in the NFL, a prestigious honor in a league full of violent defenders.
In 2019, Garrett disrupted the quarterback on 18.5% of plays!
Furthermore, NFL.com’s Nick Shook wrote:
“The Browns had a 32.9% pressure rate with Garrett on the field in 2019; without him, that figure dropped to 21.5%.”
It’s telling how different the Browns defense performed with Garrett on the field versus without him.
His sack rate of 10 in 10 games in 2019 was a monster step forward for the entire Browns D.
So while signing Garrett this summer is not necessary, it’s wise.
Considering the new Browns regime’s confidence in Garrett, a new mega-contract would elevate Garrett in the eyes of Browns Nation.
And it would assure his disruption and domination continues to be a force in the Dawg Pound for years to come.
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