Cleveland Browns: Joey Bosa deserved a bigger contract than Myles Garrett

Joey Bosa of the Los Angeles Chargers deserved the bigger contract compared to Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns.

As far as this conversation goes, keep in mind Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns is one of the best defensive ends in the league, as is the Los Angeles Charger Joey Bosa. This debate is essentially splitting hairs. No stance is universally accepted, nor should it be. Yet, in this writer’s opinion, Bosa absolutely deserved the bigger contract when compared to Garrett.

Garrett at times can be streaky when it comes to his pressure and stat-line. There are stretches of games, sometimes three or four long, where he’ll go without a sack, but then get two sacks in a game. At times his play can be very deceiving. Bosa, on the other hand, is far more even with his performances throughout the seasons. While Bosa may go a game or two without a sack, he’s not had stretches that Garrett has had. Bosa is also a better player against the run, far more likely to get tackles in the backfield or make hits at the line of scrimmage than Garrett.

Bosa and Garrett however have missed chunks of time, granted for different reasons but if you’re not on the field it really doesn’t matter why.  All in all, however, Bosa is the better overall player than Garrett and Bosa continues to show up each and every year.

Bosa’s deal is near identical to Garrett’s. There are a few exceptions, however. For one, Bosa is guaranteed $102 million over the life of the contract, as opposed to Garrett’s $100 million. Bosa also gets $78 million of that guaranteed at signing, as opposed to Garrett’s $50 million at signing. Both are for five years and will keep the franchise star on their respective teams through their prime.

Bosa and Garrett are two of the five best players at their position and are right there with Aaron Donald with regard to game-changing talent and playmaking ability.  The Browns were wise to get Garrett locked up now before Bosa set a new market trend. With guys like TJ Watt and Von Miller looking for new deals, it’s very possible that Garrett’s deal will look discounted when all the money changes hands for all of the other players.

Now that’s a thought.