Myles Garrett's extension first of many wins Browns need in 2025 - ESPN

As the weeks went on, the chasm between the Cleveland Browns and their best player appeared to get deeper.

Both sides were dug in: Defensive end Myles Garrett wanted a trade to a contender, and Cleveland's upper management insisted it was not trading its star pass rusher.

However, on Sunday, a little more than a month after Garrett's shocking trade request in early February, the two sides found common ground, agreeing to a record-breaking extension that averages $40 million per year and includes $123.5 million in guaranteed money, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The deal once again makes Garrett, 29, the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. And it rids Cleveland of a very public dispute with a franchise great that threatened to cloud its plans for free agency, which opens Wednesday.

In inking Garrett to an extension, the Browns got the first of many victories they will need this offseason to rebound from a disastrous 2024 and restore themselves to playoff contention.

In a letter publicly announcing his trade request, Garrett had reiterated his desire to compete for championships as he enters the later stages of his career. And the Browns, coming off a 3-14 season, are far from competing with the NFL's elite. But Cleveland can at least approach the upcoming free agency window knowing its cornerstone defensive player has been satisfied and will be in the fold for 2025 and beyond.

Cleveland now turns its attention to the quarterback market, where the team is expected to sign a veteran free agent. The market has already moved in recent days, with Geno Smith being traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Browns have been perusing their options. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that players such