Cleveland Browns will make Myles Garrett highest-paid defensive player in NFL history

The Cleveland Browns still have two more years of team control on defensive end and 2017 No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett, and some NFL teams are apprehensive right now about handing out massive contract extensions in the midst of a pandemic. Despite that and some questionable on-field behavior in Garrett's past, the sides reportedly have agreed on a five-year, $125 million extension that will make Garrett the highest-paid defensive player in league history. It includes $50 million in guaranteed money.

Garrett could have potentially killed Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph during a melee in the final seconds of the Browns-Steelers game in Cleveland in Week 11 last year. Garrett swung Rudolph's own helmet at the quarterback's unprotected head, and Garrett was lucky he didn't seriously injure Rudolph or worse. The NFL suspended Garrett the rest of last season, but he has since been reinstated. He also has taken some really dumb personal foul penalties over the years.

All that said, Garrett is definitely a difference-maker with 30.5 sacks in 37 career games. He has played all 16 regular-season games just once, coming in 2018 when Garrett had a career-best 13.5 sacks. Per Pro Football Focus, Garrett's pass-rush win rate of 25.2 percent lined up as an edge rusher since 2017 is the NFL's best.

The $25 million average annual value surpasses the $23.5 million being earned by Chicago Bears pass-rusher Khalil Mack as the highest ever for a defender. With Kansas City signing Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones to a four-year, $85 million extension earlier on Tuesday, there are now six defensive players earning at least $20 million per season.

Garrett is +2000 on the moneyline odds at William Hill sportsbook to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and +2500 for Comeback Player of the Year.

WHICH 2020 FANTASY FOOTBALL SLEEPER SHOULD YOU SNATCH IN YOUR DRAFT? AND WHICH WR1 CANDIDATE CAN YOU WAIT ON UNTIL LATE? JOIN SPORTSLINE NOW TO GET 2020 FANTASY FOOTBALL CHEAT SHEETS FROM THE MODEL THAT WAS ALL OVER DERRICK HENRY'S HUGE SEASON, AND FIND OUT.