Myles Garrett does about-face, agrees to record-setting extension

Myles Garrett isn't going anywhere, after all.Except straight from Cleveland to Canton.Garrett had a drastic change of heart after requesting a trade last month, agreeing Sunday to a mega-contract extension with the Browns, the team announced.Zone Coverage PodcastThe four-year deal averages $40 million a year with $123 million in guarantees, will keep him with the Browns through 2030 and makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, a league source confirmed to The Chronicle-Telegram. The extension includes a no-trade clause and a raise in 2025.He had two years left on a five-year, $125 million contract.The timing of the deal matters. Once he was open to returning, Garrett wanted the extension finalized before the start of free agency this week. Having him committed to a return should entice free agents, including potentially a quarterback, as the Browns intend to contend in 2025 rather than rebuild.Garrett, arguably the best defensive player in the history of the franchise, went public with a trade request Feb. 3. He said he wanted to win a Super Bowl and no longer felt he could do that with the Browns. He even took a shot at general manager Andrew Berry, who had said he envisioned Garrett going directly from Cleveland to Canton, the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Jim Ingraham: If the Browns need to restructure anything, it's ownership"While I've loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won't allow me to be complacent," Garrett said in his trade request. "The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl."Garrett has one playoff win in eight years after being the No. 1 pick of the 2017 draft, the Browns went 3-14 last season and don't have a starting quarterback on the roster heading into free agency.The Browns quickly stated they weren't interested in trading Garrett and stuck to their stance. Teams called but the Browns ignored them.Garrett's tour of radio row during Super Bowl week in which he flirted with other fan bases didn't influence the Browns, nor did his representatives telling reporters at the scouting combine less than two weeks ago he wasn't open to a contract extension.Four things to watch in what could be an underwhelming free agencyGarrett, 29, was adamant the trade request wasn't about money or getting a record-breaking extension, which the Browns were always willing to give him. But with the Browns not budging and aligned in their plans to keep him — Garrett's request to meet with owner Jimmy Haslam was denied and referred to Berry — Garrett's agent, Nicole Lynn, called Berry late Friday to start discussing an extension.Less than two days later, Garrett had recommitted to the Browns and his long-stated goal of bringing Cleveland a championship.The contract eclipsed the record three-year, $106.5 million extension signed by Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby on Wednesday.Garrett was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and finished third in 2024. He became the first player in NFL history with at least 14 sacks in four straight seasons, joined Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor as the only players with 12 in five straight years and was the youngest to reach 100 sacks.He holds the Browns records with 102.5 sacks in a career and 16 in a season — in 2021 and '22. He's a four-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler.Despite the team's epically disappointing 2024 season, Garrett might've been better than in his DPOY performance the year before. Despite facing a league-high rate of double teams — on a career-high 30 percent of pass rush attempts — he was second in the NFL with 14 sacks, third with 84 quarterback hits and led it with 22 tackles for loss.Garrett has made a home in Northeast Ohio and is entrenched in the community. He has a minority stake in the Cavaliers and commissioned art for downtown Cleveland, including a mural of his late grandmother.The Browns had a good few days. They found out two captains will return, as Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio announced Wednesday he's coming back for a 12th season after considering retirement.The post Myles Garrett does about-face, agrees to record-setting extension first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.