CLEVELAND (AP) — When Myles Garrett inked his record-setting contract extension last year, he made it clear that financial security wouldn’t soften the blow of missing the playoffs.
“If it’s about the money, then I can just pack it in and not go out there and give my best effort. But I plan to be the best leader possible as well as dominating on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays,” Garrett stated last March.
This perspective explains why Garrett’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns concluded Monday when the organization sent him to the Los Angeles Rams, just over a year after he penned a $204.8 million, four-year extension with $122.8 million in guaranteed money.
Cleveland shipped the two-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year to Los Angeles in exchange for pass rusher Jared Verse and three future draft selections.
Garrett had requested a trade during last year’s Super Bowl week, though he ultimately agreed to the extension a month afterward that established him as the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback at that time.
General manager Andrew Berry had previously insisted that Garrett would complete his entire career in Cleveland and eventually be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame representing the franchise. However, consistent quarterback struggles, organizational turmoil, and the catastrophic Deshaun Watson acquisition have left the Browns in perpetual rebuilding mode.
“We were sincere in that desire as we entered this offseason and did not envision a world where Myles was not a Cleveland Brown,” Berry stated Monday. “However, as we embark on a new era of Browns football with a young core and a replenished asset base, we felt this move was important to our transition.”
Berry successfully completed the transaction after Cleveland and Garrett modified his contract in March, postponing option payments scheduled for the 2026-28 seasons. The initial payment of approximately $10 million was originally due March 28 but was pushed back to near the regular season’s start.
The trade will still result in a salary cap impact of $15.53 million this season and $25.56 million next year for Cleveland.
The renewed relationship between Garrett and the Browns following his contract extension proved brief.
“To lose the same way every time, it’s frustrating as hell,” Garrett expressed on Oct. 12 following a 23-9 defeat at Pittsburgh, where Cleveland’s offense failed to reach the end zone.
Rookie Dillon Gabriel was making his second start at quarterback after taking over for veteran Joe Flacco, who had been dealt to AFC North division rival Cincinnati.
Following the Pittsburgh defeat, Garrett recorded at least a half-sack in nine consecutive contests. He established a franchise record with five against New England in Week 8, collected four versus Baltimore in Week 11, and added three more the next week at Las Vegas. He surpassed the single-season record of 22½ sacks previously held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt during the fourth quarter of his final Browns appearance in the season finale at Cincinnati.
Following Kevin Stefanski’s dismissal, numerous defensive players advocated for coordinator Jim Schwartz to receive the head coaching promotion.
“I’m committed to winning, and as long as the team (and) organization are doing so and they’re committed to that same thing, then I’m all on board. But if we’re thinking anything other than winning — tanking or rebuilding, that’s not me,” Garrett said on Jan. 2.
The organization passed over Schwartz and chose Todd Monken in late January. Schwartz departed after three seasons in Cleveland one week later.
Monken revealed two weeks ago that he had not encountered Garrett in person since his hiring.
Garrett — who holds a minority ownership in the Cavaliers — made several visits to Cleveland during the NBA playoffs but avoided stopping at the Browns’ facility.
Cleveland selected Garrett with the first overall pick in 2017. He experienced the NFL’s second 0-16 campaign during his rookie season, the initial year of five double-digit loss seasons he would endure.
Garrett contributed to Cleveland’s first playoff victory since the 1994 season, a 48-37 triumph over Pittsburgh in an AFC wild-card game during his fourth year in 2020. The Browns qualified for the playoffs again in 2023, falling to Houston in the opening round, but compiled an 8-26 record over the most recent two seasons.
Since 2017, Cleveland holds the league’s sixth-worst record at 58-90-1.
The 30-year-old Garrett — a five-time All-Pro selection — became the first NFL player to achieve at least 12 sacks in six straight seasons (2020-25) and remains the only player with double-digit sacks in each of the past eight years. His 125½ career sacks rank tied for 20th in league history.
“What I can say with complete honesty is this; I gave this city everything I had. I suited up and wore those colors with pride, and I don’t regret a second of being part of this storied franchise. Every Sunday. Every offseason. Every play, Every down. Every moment. You gave me more in return than I can ever repay,” Garrett wrote in a social media message to Browns supporters. “The best days for this franchise are ahead, Thank you for letting me grow here. Thank you for believing in me.
“Loving you is easy, leaving you is the hard part. Thank you for nine unforgettable years.”
The Browns have utilized 42 different quarterbacks for at least one start since their 1999 return, including 15 during the past nine seasons.
The constant quarterback changes represent a primary reason Cleveland has achieved just four winning seasons since returning and why Monken becomes the seventh head coach hired by Jimmy and Dee Haslam since purchasing the franchise in 2012.
Jimmy Haslam acknowledged last year that the Browns “took a big swing and miss” when they traded three first-round selections to Houston for Watson in 2022 and awarded him a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract that stands as the worst in NFL history.
Nevertheless, Watson appears favored to start Week 1 at Jacksonville despite not playing since Week 7 of the 2024 season due to two Achilles tendon injuries. Watson is competing with Shedeur Sanders, who started the final seven games as a rookie last season, posting a 3-4 record with seven touchdown passes, 10 interceptions, and a 68.1 passer rating.
Should Cleveland continue struggling at quarterback, they will possess two first-round picks in 2027.
While Garrett’s trade didn’t yield three first-round selections, it did secure a young pass rusher in Verse. Along with the 2027 first-round pick, Cleveland obtained a second-round selection in 2028 and a third-rounder in 2029.
Verse’s arrival provides the Browns with the past two AP Defensive Rookies of the Year. Carson Schwesinger captured last season’s honor after leading NFL rookies with 156 tackles and 11 tackles for loss.
Verse, selected 19th overall in the 2024 draft, recorded 4½ sacks as a rookie and 7½ sacks last season, plus three forced fumbles.
