Browns' Salary Cap for 2025 NFL Free Agency After Myles Garrett's Historic Contract

Myles Garrett is staying with the Cleveland Browns after all.

Despite a trade request earlier in the offseason, the star pass-rusher agreed to a new contract extension with the Browns on Sunday. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the contract pays him an average-annual salary of $40 million, includes $123.5 million in guarantees, features a no-trade clause and keeps him tied to the Browns through the 2030 campaign.

What's more, it makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

It adds another layer to the team's financial outlook. According to Over The Cap, Cleveland is just 25th in the league with $12.6 million in cap space for 2025.

It certainly doesn't help the Browns that quarterback Deshaun Watson is carrying a $36.9 million cap number into the 2025 season, per Over The Cap. That would be a significant number even if he was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and becomes far more cumbersome given his actual status.

Watson has played just 19 games with Cleveland the last three years, has struggled to live up to expectations on the field and now could miss the entire 2025 campaign after suffering a second Achilles year.

That means the front office has to find ways to improve a team that went 3-14 last season all while dealing with arguably the worst contract in the NFL.

Yet keeping Garrett around will help in those 2025 efforts.

He is the face of the franchise at this point with a resume that includes a Defensive Player of the Year, four First-Team All-Pro nods, six Pro Bowl selections and seven consecutive seasons with double-digit sack totals.

Garrett was a bright spot last season with 47 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass defended. He is also just 29 years old and figures to remain a peak performer for the foreseeable future.

Taking care of his contract ahead of free agency and the draft means the front office can now focus on addressing other needs on the roster.

Quarterback stands out as the most obvious one, and the team will have to decide whether it wants to add a notable veteran such as Kirk Cousins or draft one such as Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders with the No. 2 overall pick.

Whoever is under center can at least take solace knowing Garrett will be on the other side consistently working to get the offense the ball back for years to come.