Garrett signs new deal with Browns worth reported $125M over 5 years

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett put pen to paper on a new contract Wednesday, one that will reportedly pay him $125 million over five years.

The five-year extension, which begins in 2022 after his rookie contract and fifth-year option, will make Garrett the highest-paid defensive player in football on a per-annual basis.

"One of our fundamental organizational beliefs is identifying young players on our roster and proactively retaining them as part of our present and future core," Browns general manager Andrew Berry said of the 24-year-old pass-rusher in a team release.

Garrett, the No. 1 pick of the 2017 draft, has 30.5 career sacks in three seasons. He had 10 sacks through 10 games last year before he was suspended for the rest of the campaign for hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with a helmet. He was a leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year before the incident.

"Myles' rare physical gifts in conjunction with his work ethic, intellect, and humility have been the catalysts behind an auspicious start to his young career," Berry said. "Despite his early individual successes, Myles maintains the same drive toward greatness that he displayed as a 22-year-old rookie. We firmly believe that this intense focus means the best is yet to come."