The Los Angeles Rams may have paid a high price to acquire Myles Garrett in a trade with the Browns, but the actual cost to the team in money is a discount. According to OvertheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald, the Rams only owe $99 million in cash to Garrett over the next three seasons. An enormous sum to us, but a bargain for a pass rusher of Garrett’s caliber.
“Garrett’s contract is pretty much designed to ensure that he is a member of the roster thru the 2028 season, which is the final year of the contract with
any meaningful guarantee. Assuming the Rams keep the contract intact that will result in cap charges of $16.056million in 2027 and $21.383 million in 2028. Their cash commitment over that time is $99 million, or $33 million a year, which is pretty reasonable for a high level EDGE.
In 2029 the Rams will face a decision to take on $52.4 million in dead money or keep Garrett at a near $42 million cap charge and add to later bills. A post June 1 release would allow them to split that at about $18 million in 2029 and $34 million in 2030.“
By comparison, the Texans just signed Will Anderson to a contract that averages $50 million per season, including $100 million guaranteed at signing. In other words, Anderson’s contract guarantees him as much money right now as Garrett is set to earn over the next three years in new money.
The Rams also only him a cap hit of $9 million in 2026, $16 million in 2027, and $21 million in 2028. ABSURD values for Garrett.
This does not mean that Garrett will be compelled to ask for a raise immediately, but for how long will he play on the already-dated four-year, $160 million extension that he signed with Cleveland last year?
There are already five outside linebackers who make more per year than Garrett:
- Anderson, $50m
- Micah Parsons, $46m
- Aidan Hutchinson, $45m
- T.J. Watt, $41m
- Danielle Hunter, $40.1m
Although Garrett received a $21 million signing bonus in 2025, surely he knows that he now has Les Snead over a barrel if he decides to ask for a raise.
That might not be something that Garrett does in 2026—his extension doesn’t even begin until 2027—as he focuses on finally winning playoff games for the first time in his career.
However, Garrett may not want to be a discount in 2027, 2028, and 2029.
The Rams will pay him $99 million over three years. But if he were to have another great season, Garrett might like to test the waters at $60 million per season on a new contract next offseason.
And what could the Rams really do about it? They just spent a first round pick and Jared Verse and more picks to acquire him, not for a rental, but the long haul. If Garrett wants a three-year, $180 million contract, is Snead going to say no? This is the same team that handed out raises to Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp in 2022 just because those players knew that they had all the leverage after winning the Super Bowl.
If Garrett helps the Rams win a Super Bowl next season, he might not be satisfied with being a “bargain” any longer.
