As the Washington Commanders ponder a bombshell trade for Myles Garrett, the price for elite pass-rushers just went up.
That's because the Las Vegas Raiders just gave Maxx Crosby a three-year contract extension worth $106.5 million, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
Garrett is signed with the Cleveland Browns through 2026 on a five-year deal worth $125 million. If the Commanders or any other team are to strike a deal for the star edge rusher, one has to believe that an extension would immediately become a top priority.
After all, Washington isn't going to give up a king's ransom of draft picks and potential additional assets for a short-term rental.
An extension for Garrett, assuming he remains one of the game's elite defenders, will likely be worth somewhere approaching $40 million per year. It would be the type of deal that can handcuff a team's entire cap room. Should that team end up being Washington, one has to consider that quarterback Jayden Daniels will be in the final season of his rookie contract in 2027 — albeit with a fifth-year option almost certain if a new deal isn't secured before then.
Commanders would mortgage their financial flexibility for Myles Garrett
That means the Commanders will be looking to give him a massive, potentially record-breaking, long-term deal. Daniels would be the top priority if he continues to produce at an elite level.
Long story short, Washington will have to be cautious when it comes to Garrett.
Right now, the Commanders are in their ideal window with a rising superstar quarterback with two or three years left before they have to pay him (Daniels becomes extension-eligible after three seasons). They have the fifth-most salary cap space in the entire NFL even after trading for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. These next two or three years are where Adam Peters needs to go all-in on maximizing their roster to compete for Super Bowls.
Garrett might be part of those plans. He might not be. If he is, the former first-round pick's presence will force Washington to pick and choose who the team can pay.
All-Pro wideout Terry McLaurin will be up for a new deal after the 2025 season if not before (speculation is rising about an extension this offseason). Given the career year he experienced in 2024, he'll be seeking top dollar. Explosive linebacker Frankie Luvu, who was brought in on a bargain, is set to be a free agent after 2026.
The harsh reality of being a contender is that sustaining a winning core is often just as hard as building one. Once the standard is set, the expectations get harder to match.
Assistant coaches get snatched away, and players want their paydays. The Commanders should make every attempt to bring in Garrett, but those in power have to know that if and when they do, there will be no turning back from the bed they'll have made.
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