The Cleveland Browns adjusted the contract of defensive end Myles Garrett this week, postponing option bonuses originally due on March 25. The change shifts payments to seven days before the regular-season opener, reducing dead cap charges for a potential trade. Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, signed a four-year, $160 million extension last year after requesting a trade.
Cleveland Browns officials agreed with Myles Garrett to alter his contract language, according to ESPN. An option bonus scheduled for the 15th day of the league year—March 25—has been moved to seven days before the first regular-season game in September. Similar adjustments apply to bonuses in 2027 and 2028, tied to the start of those seasons. This modification means the Browns avoid paying the bonus if Garrett is no longer on the roster by then. From a salary cap perspective, via Over The Cap data, a pre-June 1 trade now carries a $41.09 million dead cap hit, down from $70.3 million previously. After June 1, it splits into $15.53 million for 2026 and $25.56 million for 2027. In Garrett's first year under the extension, he set an NFL single-season sack record with 23 and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Browns, in a rebuilding phase, also proposed an NFL rule change to allow trading draft picks five years into the future, up from three, which could aid in securing a strong return. While the team has not signaled intent to trade Garrett, the contract tweak extends their window for a deal through much of the offseason, including before the 2026 NFL Draft.
