Trey Hendrickson and TJ Watt clearly impacted by the contract the Browns gave Myles Garrett
Something every Cleveland Browns fan is aware of is just how difficult the AFC North has been. In 2023, the division joined historic company with the Browns finally joining the winning party at the same time as the rest of their AFC North foes.
Unfortunately, even with long ago success in Cleveland, the Browns having a losing record against the three teams in their division:
- 15-37 vs the Baltimore Ravens
- 48-55 vs the Cincinnati Bengals
- 64-82-1 vs the Pittsburgh Steelers
The AFC North is also filled with top-flight pass rushers in Myles Garrett, TJ Watt and Trey Hendrickson. The Ravens have often created pressure by system and committee without always having a top playmaker rushing from the outside.
While Cleveland hasn’t been ultra-competitive in the division, they have now twice caused havoc for their rivals with contracts they have handed out. The ill-fated Deshaun Watson contract made things tough on Baltimore and Cincinnati when negotiating with QB Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. Now, it is Garrett’s contract that is impacting holdouts for Watt and Hendrickson.
According to Brooke Pryor (transcribed by Steelers Depot), the Browns deal with Garrett changed things for the Steelers:
“I think what they were not anticipating is how serious T.J. Watt is about being at the top of the market”, Pryor said. “And I think at that point, too, they weren’t necessarily anticipating Myles Garrett resetting the market in such a big way.”
As it stands right now, Garrett’s $40 million average annual salary is $4.4 million more than the next largest Danielle Hunter ($35.6 million). Only three pass rushers (Maxx Crosby, Nick Bosa and Hunter) are making at least $30 million annually.
Watt’s current contract has him making $28 million a year while Hendrickson sits at $21 million.
Outside of the AFC North, Micah Parsons is also seeking a new deal. Garrett, a Texas native who grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan, weighed in on Parsons’ seeking a new contract as well:
“He should get every penny he’s owed.”#Browns star Myles Garrett weighs in on #Cowboys LB Micah Parsons and his potential new deal. https://t.co/7ban6xKb2I
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 16, 2025
Watt and Hendrickson are more than a year older than Garrett while seeking deals similar to Cleveland’s stud pass rusher. Parsons has a much better shot at passing Garrett’s numbers given his age, 3.5 years younger than the former Defensive Player of the Year.
Most believe that Watt and Hendrickson will get deals one with the former being more likely than the latter. That doesn’t mean their front offices won’t be frustrated that the Browns once again are making negotiations more difficult for them.