Every NFL team’s highest salary for the 2023 season

Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett — $29.176 million

The Cleveland Browns famously gave Deshaun Watson a contract that set the market, causing stress for many GMs and owners around the league. He was given a fully-guaranteed five-year deal worth $230 million. However, his cap number this year is insanely just over $19 million. The Browns worked that out by making the next three years come with a $63 million cap hit. Next year, the Browns are in trouble, as Over the Cap has them at $59 million over the salary cap for 2024.

As far as 2023 goes, they’re in pretty good shape. Myles Garrett is their highest-paid player, as he should be. The pass rusher is one of the best in the game at a premium position. The 27-year-old is coming off back-to-back 16-sack seasons. It does not matter who he shares a line with, who double-teams him, or how offenses scheme to stop him. He is always in the quarterback’s face.

This is honestly one of the best contracts in the league for a defensive player. There’s really no downside for Garrett, who is protected throughout the deal with multiple bonuses. He also gets a raise next year, and unless he decides he wants to make less money, it’s a contract that will be a problem for the Browns.

Last season, Garrett made it into the top five for Defensive Player of the Year voting. Nobody is going to complain about what he’s making. However, the Browns did themselves no favors by making the peak of his contract interact with the start of Watson’s raise (which comes next year).