Despite signing superstar Myles Garrett to a four-year, $160 million extension just one year ago, the Cleveland Browns decided to go in a different direction by trading him to the Los Angeles Rams.
It’s no secret the Browns are going through a rebuild, so they acquired Jared Verse and a bunch of draft assets for their franchise cornerstone, who will now have a chance to compete for a Super Bowl with the Rams. And it appears the trade is coming with a new contract for Garrett, per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk:
As the Rams worked through a trade for defensive end Myles Garrett, they didn’t have time to do a new contract. They now have.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Rams and Garrett have worked out a new deal. It’s a five-year deal covering 2026 through 2030, with available options through 2038. (The options are surely present for cap purposes.)
We’re in the process of tracking down the details. The key question is whether and to what extent the new-money APY will change. His latest deal set a new standard for non-quarterbacks, at $40 million per year. Since then, the bar has moved to $50 million.
The signing bonus is $35.7 million. The salary will be at least $1.3 million, pushing his minimum compensation package for 2026 to $37 million.
Despite Garrett signing a record-breaking four-year, $160 million extension just one year ago, the market for a player of his caliber has already increased, especially with him coming off a season in which he set the NFL sack record.
With this new deal, the Rams are making sure to keep Garrett happy by giving him a raise and tacking on an extra year to his contract. Even at the age of 30, Garrett is seemingly getting better every year and is committed to the Rams for at least five more seasons, giving him plenty of opportunities to win his first Super Bowl.
Rams had coveted Myles Garrett for years
The Rams are known for taking big swings on the trade market with Garrett being the latest example. And according to various reports, Sean McVay and L.A. had been coveting the Browns superstar since 2022.
Pulling off a trade of this caliber isn’t easy though, and the Rams’ willingness to part with Verse is ultimately what convinced the Browns to make the deal. The early returns are that it seems to be a win-win trade with both teams getting what they want.
