“As a kid dreaming of the NFL… The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.” Myles Garrett surprised everyone by requesting a trade from the Browns early this year. But what initially seemed like the beginning of the roster-building turned out to be dramatic at the end.
Owner Jimmy Haslam threw $123.5 million in guaranteed money to Myles Garrett. With this, the defensive end became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. After all, his annual average salary now rocks up at a massive $40 million over four years. But as per analyst Mike Florio, the decision might be wrong, as Garrett has received Deshaun Watson-like treatment.
Florio, who appeared on The Rich Eisen Show on Monday, expressed, “I think the Browns have a very bad habit of attempting to solve problems by throwing money at them, and I don’t think that’s a good long-term strategy. Go back to three years ago, when the Texans approved teams to negotiate directly with Deshaun Watson, the Panthers, Falcons, Saints and Browns (showed interest). The Browns were the first team out. They got the shoulder tap first from Deshaun Watson. So what did they do? They huddled, refocused, and they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.” In short, the focus on extending Garrett’s contract overshadows other pressing roster issues.
Although Watson didn’t want to go there, “but he took the money and I think that created a poisonous relationship from the get-go.” In addition, Watson hasn’t played well. A QBR of 23.4 in the 2024 season was the career-worst so far. Similarly, fast forward to now – the Browns may have just repeated the same mistake with Myles Garrett. And with this, Florio doesn’t mean that the DE might not play well like Watson or be stuck with injuries like him. After all, he finished second in the NFL with 14 sacks last season and became the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year.
Instead, the analyst’s intention is fear for the future. Reports say Garrett wanted out, but instead of trading him, the Browns opened up the vault and gave him a massive deal. So, Florio questions: “How’s it going to feel if the Browns stink this year? How’s it going to feel if the Browns stink next year, when he otherwise would have been closing in on free agency? I don’t think this solves anything long term unless they really do turn it around.” Translation: Money can’t fix everything. The decision to prioritize a marquee extension over addressing critical gaps in the squad could prove costly down the line.
Rewind to 2022. As per experts, Watson was a bad bet at any price, yet the Browns went all in. To get Watson, the Browns gave the Texans the following:
A 2022 first-round pick (13th overall)
A 2022 fourth-round pick (104th)
A 2023 first-round pick (12th)
A 2023 third-round pick (73rd)
A 2024 first-round pick (23rd)
A 2024 fourth-round pick (123rd)
A record $230 million dollars over five years, guaranteed
And the outcome: The Texans won the AFC South Division in 2023, thanks to the Browns’ foolishness. Seems like the Browns never learn from history.
Another key point: By paying Garrett instead of trading him, the Browns lost the chance to stock up on young, affordable talent for the future. They already gave up a fortune in draft picks for Deshaun Watson, and now they’ve doubled down on Myles Garrett instead of potentially getting a major haul in return.
No doubt, this is just how the Browns operate. That’s why even Sean Payton’s daughter sarcastically took a jab at their working culture. When faced with tough decisions, they believe money will fix everything. But if the team doesn’t turn things around, this could all backfire—just like it did with Watson. And now, they are finding his alternative.
Myles Garrett will be playing under a new QB?
After throwing handsome money at Myles Garrett, Jimmy Haslam moved on to work at the quarterback position. Perhaps he might have convinced Garrett that the new QB will help fulfill his dream of a Super Bowl. I mean, you never know. But that dream seems quite not possible, as of now, with the new QB the Browns signed—Kenny Pickett!
No doubt, Pickett is technically a Super Bowl champ now. The Steelers traded him to the Eagles in March 2024. And now, the Browns acquired him from Philadelphia in exchange for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft pick.
Deshaun Watson is expected to be sidelined for most of (if not all) the next season. He is recovering from an Achilles heel injury. But will Pickett be the right choice as a starter for the Browns? In the lone start of the Eagles, the man has completed 66.7% of his throws, including a touchdown in a Week 17 game. And let us remind you, in that game itself, Saquon Barkley eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards for the 2024 season.
Moreover, Pickett has the experience behind Jalen Hurts. So, you never know. He can help the team to take them through the playoffs—then it might at least console Myles Garrett to stay in without any further trade request.
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