"[The Browns] have always had confidence in me and my abilities," Garrett told reporters over Zoom on Thursday. "I'm just going to do my best to make it worth it for them, and make me and my friends and my family proud."
Garrett, who has amassed 30.5 sacks in 37 career games played, is just 24 years old, and will average $25 million per year with the new deal.
"I don't want to be the same player I was last season," Garrett added. "I want to be better in all aspects. This year, I want to ball out, win that award [Defensive Player of the Year], take my team to the playoffs, and even higher than that."
Khalil Mack of the Chicago Bears was previously the NFL's highest-paid pass-rusher at $23.5 million per year after signing a six-year, $141 million contract extension in 2018. Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams was the second-highest, earning $22.5 million per year.
Both Mack and Donald have already won the Defensive Player of the Year award, so now with the title of being the highest-paid player on defense in the league, Garrett is freshly motivated.
"I already felt like I was in their league," Garrett said. "Now that the banner is on me. I have to assert myself as top dog, and I feel like I'm confident and ready to do that."
Garrett racked up 10.0 sacks in 10 games in 2019 before being suspended for the remainder of the year for ripping off the helmet of Mason Rudolph and hitting the Steelers quarterback in the head with it in the closing seconds of a 21-7 victory in November. The suspension lasted the final six games of the 2019 season.
But he won't let that incident define him going forward.
"My life is much bigger than one moment," Garrett stated. "Me, the Browns, and my teammates are going to look past that. That will be just a small bump in the road."
After being reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell in January, Garrett won't stand for the 'dirty player' label from opponents.
"That's just life. You have one mistake and people are going to come after you. Me, I'm just going to keep on playing my game, not worrying about what people say. Its just a bump in the road. I know my teammates will have my back to de-escalate and keep it to football."
However, the Browns DE hasn't followed up with Rudolph, or Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin, since the incident.
"There has been no communication," Garrett said. "I have no problem talking with those guys, but there just hasn't. I don't have any ill-intent towards either of them."
Meanwhile, the newly-signed Garrett is preparing for the 2020 season remotely amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Garrett had a weight room installed in his house to work on his movement, his hands, and everything he would have been doing in the Browns training facility.
Garrett says he's conditioning himself "for whenever the season starts," but that might be up in the air right now.
The NFL and NFLPA remain at an impasse in negotiations involving safety and financial issues ahead of trying to play the 2020 season in the midst of the pandemic.
The NFL’s latest proposal, which was sent to the NFLPA Tuesday night, included two preseason games, but the union does not want any games, and also called for daily COVID-19 testing and for positive COVID-19 tests to be classified as a non-football injury.
"I think it can be done, it just has to be treated delicately," Garrett posed on the season starting on time. "It's just about getting everyone on a fair and level playing field."
"The facemask is not going to do much," Garrett admitted. "You've got guys swapping hands, spitting, bleeding. There's so much time when there's physical contact, when you're exchanging contagions. There's so many possibilities and actions where it can happen. The facemask ... it has good intentions ... but it's not going to help."
"For us, its just about being as efficient and safe as possible. We want to make it where guys are coming in from other cities, other states, where they have a safe place to study, shower, [and do] whatever you need so you don't pass it along to your family your loved ones."
Holding the belief that there will be an NFL season in 2020, Garrett is excited about the team's prospects and is aspiring to some lofty goals.
"We've got to show that this talent came together and win some big games," Garrett asserted. "The sky is the limit, not only for me, but for everyone."
And now that he's a $25 million a year man, Garrett wants to re-assert himself as the team leader.
His ultimate goal - turn around the Browns franchise for good.
"I would like to lead the pack for that," Garrett said, smiling. "Whether its next year, or however many years it takes, I want to take us to that promised land."