Last week, Patrick Mahomes signed a 10 year contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs that could amount to $503 million.
That makes fans wonder, who might be the next player to earn a 10 year contract?
As some have already hinted. Browns are going to lock up Garrett. Which is smart. I think could still add more depth there and other areas on defense. Extending myles Garrett is a must. The heart and soul of the rushing defense.
— Tim Whelan (@Tim_Whelan216) July 7, 2020
Could it be Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett?
The short answer is probably not.
Furthermore, Garrett, Browns fans, and the Browns front office should not even want to go down this road.
And here’s why:
1. DE’s do not get 10-year deals.
Historically, these blockbuster long-term contracts went to quarterbacks.
Look at the recent recipients:
2001 – Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers
2001 – Drew Bledsoe, New England Patriots
2002 – Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles (This was a 12 year contract.)
2003 – Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota Vikings
2004 – Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons
The idea behind the 10 year deal is to lock in a young player presumably on the brink of his peak potential and allow him to flourish and retire with the same team.
It is supposed to ensure longevity and security for both the team and the player.
Considering the recent examples above, that did not happen.
Age, injury, off-the-field issues, or drafting the heir apparent drove out all of these players.
They did not complete the terms of their contracts.
Most likely, there was a lot of guaranteed money involved so the parting was not financial scarring for the player, but it was emotionally played out in the public eye in some of these cases.
So if the 10 year contract does not achieve its intended goals, it seems pointless.
I would argue that even though the reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes already has a stellar NFL career with a Super Bowl Championship under his belt, the Chiefs should have thought twice about entering into a deal of this magnitude.
This is probably why they are not a frequent occurrence.
2. Myles Garrett’s Inconsistencies
Let’s say if (and it’s a big IF), the Browns wanted to tender a 10 year contract to a player, the most likely candidate would be Baker Mayfield.
Because of his age and position, it seems logical.
However, he needs a monster 2020 season to even be considered for such a deal.
Myles Garrett, on the other hand, is inconsistent.
Can he be a great player?
Yes, he has shown signs of greatness.
In 2019, #Browns Olivier Vernon had the second-highest pressure rate of his career – 35 pressures on 265 rushes – 13.2%
His career high came in 2015 – 81 pressures on 540 rushes – 15%
For reference, Myles Garrett was at 15.1% in 2019. pic.twitter.com/YDdmjen4ke
— Sam Penix (@Sam_Penix) July 8, 2020
Bu there are problems too.
1. Injuries have plagued him; he has played only 1 complete season out of his first 3 in the NFL, and he struggled with injuries in college also.
2. He has exhibited emotional immaturity on the field that detracts from his overall game.
3. His play has been streaky at best.
While Myles Garrett has talent and youth (24 years old) on his side, he is in the 4th year of his rookie contract.
Because he was a 1st round draft pick, the Browns also can exercise a 5th-year option on him.
In the best case, he will be 25 years old when the next contract is negotiated.
But a decade is a long time to withstand the physical rigors of football with the same team, and the odds are against Garrett being a Brown when he turns 35.
He may not even be in the NFL anymore so why not negotiate a more realistic contract that is fair and reasonable for all parties involved?
Vote!
[socialpoll id=”2663640″]
NEXT: Greedy Williams Under Most Pressure Of The Browns' 2nd-Year Players
