Myles Garrett broke silence on Friday for the first time since signing his record-breaking contract, which made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
Garrett’s payday that will give him $40 million per year came after his trade request back in February. Cleveland remained adamant they wouldn’t trade him and that turned out to be the case.
Following his payday, Garrett doesn’t believe he needs to do anything different to show fans the player and leader that he is.
“I’ll continue to be the person that I have been, and I think just being that constant leader, I don’t think you can put a dollar sign on that at any time,” Garrett told the media on Friday. “Leaders come from guys who are undrafted to guys who are the highest paid. It doesn’t take a playmaker to be a leader, nor does it take, like I said, a dollar sign. So continue to learn to be more and more of a leader every year and every day.”
Garrett has had double-digit sacks for seven straight seasons and has recorded at least 14 for the last four seasons. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year has cemented himself as the top defensive player in the NFL, and he probably would have repeated as the winner of the DPOY award in 2024 had the Browns been better.
The idea that the huge deal is going to allow him to become content isn’t one that Garrett is looking at.
“I go out there and prove it. 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 person possible in this locker room, be the best leader possible, as well as dominating on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays,” Garrett said. “So that kind of mindset remaining and being displayed on those days when everyone’s watching, that really shows you what it’s all about. Going out and giving everything for those kinds of wins and what I’ve done year in, year out, that really proves it to the fans. No amount of words will.”
Cleveland was never going to let their franchise cornerstone get away and it would have been silly to do so. Take Garrett away from Jim Schwartz’s defense and the unit takes a big step back. The 29-year-old Garrett is set to be in Cleveland through the 2030 season and likely end his career in Cleveland barring a change.
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