The Cleveland Browns have secured their defensive cornerstone by signing star defensive end Myles Garrett to a lucrative four-year contract extensionthat will keep him with the franchise through the 2030 season, the team announced Sunday.

According to sources with knowledge of the agreement, the deal is worth $40 million annually and includes $123.5 million in guaranteed money, making Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. ESPN's Adam Schefter was first to report the financial terms of the extension.

This landmark agreement comes just weeks after Garrett had reportedly requested a trade from Cleveland, citing championship aspirations as his motivation. In February, the dominant pass rusher expressed his frustrations, writing: "As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl – and that goal fuels me today more than ever. 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."

Since being selected first overall in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, Garrett has established himself as one of the league's premier defensive players. The 29-year-old has amassed 102.5 career sacks – the most in Browns franchise history and second most in the NFL since entering the league. His dominance was recognized last season when he was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.

Despite Cleveland's disappointing 3-14 record in 2024, Garrett continued to excel individually, recording 14 sacks (second most in the league) and an NFL-best 22 tackles for loss. The Browns have made the playoffs just twice during Garrett's tenure – in 2020 and 2023.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry had maintained throughout the offseason that the organization had no intention of trading their defensive standout, consistently expressing confidence that Garrett would remain in Cleveland. This extension validates that position and suggests the team has successfully addressed Garrett's concerns about the franchise's competitive direction.

With Garrett now secured long-term, the Browns will continue their roster improvement efforts, starting with the No. 2 overall selection in April's NFL draft as they look to build a championship-caliber team around their defensive superstar.