New Browns general manager Andrew Berry made his position on star defensive end Myles Garrett clear earlier this offseason.
Berry wanted to secure Garrett as a long-term cornerstone of the franchise, and now the achievement of that goal is imminent.
The Browns and Garrett are close to finalizing a blockbuster contract extension, a person familiar with the negotiations confirmed Tuesday.
The deal will be worth $125 million in new money over five years, another person with knowledge of the situation said, adding the extension will be finalized this week and could be wrapped up in the next two days.
NFL Network first reported a five-year, $125 million extension was on the horizon and added the deal contains $100 million in guarantees, including a $50 million signing bonus.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Garrett will become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, surpassing Chicago Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack’s average annual salary of $23.5 million.
“Well deserved!!! Let’s get it @MylesLGarrett,” Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield tweeted in response to the news.
Garrett, 24, is under contract with the Browns for the next two seasons, so the five-year extension will tie him to Cleveland for seven seasons — through 2026.
The four-year rookie deal Garrett signed in 2017 was worth $30.4 million. He is scheduled to make a base salary of $4,612,125 in 2020, and he is slated to earn $15,184,000 in 2021 after Berry exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie contract in April.
Berry and the Browns have supported Garrett publicly and privately despite the NFL suspending him for the final six games of last season because he hit Mason Rudolph over the head with the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback’s helmet during an ugly brawl late in a Nov. 14 “Thursday Night Football” game in Cleveland. Garrett accused Rudolph of calling him “a stupid N-word” in the moments preceding the helmet swing, an allegation Rudolph has denied. The league reinstated Garrett in February.
Garrett had 10 sacks through 10 games when the suspension ended his 2019 season. He has 30.5 sacks in 37 games during his three NFL seasons, with a career-best 13.5 sacks in 2018, when he made his lone Pro Bowl.
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