Myles Garrett is not expected to be present for the start of the Cleveland Browns' offseason program.
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Myles Garrett is not expected to be present for the start of the Cleveland Browns' offseason program.
The Cleveland Browns will open their voluntary offseason program without their top player in attendance.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Myles Garrett is not expected to attend the start of the team’s voluntary offseason program, though he added it is not a big issue or any reason to doubt Garrett’s future with the club.
“It doesn’t seem like we’ll see Myles Garrett in Cleveland anytime soon. Lamar Jackson showing up was significant. Garrett not showing up doesn’t seem significant, mainly because this is what he does,” Rapoport said. “If you’re the best defensive player in the NFL and you have a way you like to unwind after a season or get ready for the next — and it works to the point where you’re breaking the NFL sack record and winning Defensive Player of the Year again — it makes sense to let him keep doing that.”
Myles Garrett Absence Comes Amid Browns Trade Rumors
The workouts are voluntary, but Garrett’s presence alongside new head coach Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg would carry weight as the Browns begin establishing a new tone. Garrett has skipped the workouts before under similar circumstances, generating questions about his leadership.
Rapoport addressed the broader uncertainty surrounding Garrett’s situation in Cleveland as the team prepares for next season following a 5-12 campaign.
“Yes, there has been a lot of change in Cleveland and a lot of discussion around Myles Garrett’s contract adjustment on if he’ll be traded,” Rapoport said. “They all believe he’ll be very much a part of the future. We’ll see on that as we get closer to the season. But when we don’t see Myles Garrett [Tuesday], it will not be a big deal as far as his standing with the team, or anything else.”
The Browns are among the clubs kicking off their voluntary programs early this week, given that Monken is new to the organization. Teams with new head coaches are permitted to begin Phase One ahead of the standard start date for the rest of the league.
Garrett’s Contract Adjustment Fueled Trade Speculation
As Rapoport noted, Garrett’s absence comes against the backdrop of a busy and unsettled offseason. The Browns modified language in Garrett’s contract, pushing back the date for option bonuses to be exercised from the 15th day of each league year to seven days before the regular season.
That move triggered a fresh wave of trade speculation around the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. General manager Andrew Berry pushed back forcefully on those rumors at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.
“If we wanted to trade Myles, we wouldn’t have needed to make a contract adjustment,” Berry told reporters, per ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi. “Myles is a career Brown. He is one of the faces of our organization. I think we’ve been very clear in both past and present.
“I understand all the questions. I’ll be honest, I don’t really want to waste a ton more breath on the topic.”
Last season, Garrett set the NFL single-season sack record with 23.0 sacks, finishing with 43 solo tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 39 QB hits. Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million extension last offseason, just one month after publicly requesting a trade.