Myles Garrett made a brief stop in Cleveland over the weekend — and it appears that’s all it was.
After attending Game 1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first-round NBA Playoff series against the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena, Garrett shared a photo indicating he was flying out of the city, all but confirming he will not be present for the Browns’ voluntary offseason workouts this week.
Garrett’s photo showed his bags and shoes with an airplane emoji.
GettyMyles Garrett shared a photo on social media after attending the Cavaliers playoff game.
As he has in recent years, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year skipped Phase 1 of the team’s offseason program earlier this month. There was some thought Garrett might stick around after being spotted in town, but with him now heading out, that possibility appears off the table. The Browns’ voluntary veteran minicamp runs from April 21-23.
Browns on Garrett Absence: Myles Will be Ready
Browns new head coach, Todd Monken, downplayed Garrett’s absence last week.
“First of all, as I’ve said this before, this is voluntary for our players to be here,” Monken told reporters. “Myles will be ready. I’m not worried about Myles.”
While Monken isn’t worried about his star pass-rusher, he doesn’t necessarily agree with his decision.
“Hell, I’ve been part of a team since I was five years old,” Monken said. “There’s nothing like it. I wouldn’t miss it because that’s me, that’s how I’m wired. But it is voluntary.”
The optics remain complicated. The Browns are working under a new coaching staff, and continued absences — even voluntary ones — do little to quiet the noise that has followed Garrett all offseason.
There’s also a financial layer to it. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that Garrett has a $1 million workout bonus in 2026 tied to attendance thresholds. By skipping, Garrett is likely forfeiting that money. But on a $160 million deal, it’s a relatively minor hit.
Trade Rumors Persist Around Browns Star Myles Garrett
Garrett’s absences have also done very little to quiet the trade chatter. The Browns restructured Garrett’s contract earlier this offseason in a way that significantly reduced the dead cap cost of a potential trade.
However, general manager Andrew Berry has been emphatic that a trade is off the table.
“Myles is a career Brown,” Berry said. “He is one of the faces of our organization. I think we’ve been very clear both past and present in terms of our feelings. I understand all the questions. I’ll be honest, I don’t really want to waste a ton more breath on the topic.”
The idea of trading Garrett for the right price is something the Browns at least have to consider. Coming off eight wins over the last two seasons, Cleveland has a long way to go to be a serious contender, which is what Garrett seeks. He could also bring back multiple first-round picks, which could help aid in a rebuild.
The Browns have mandatory minicamp scheduled for June, which Garrett is contractually obligated to attend.
Browns Star Myles Garrett Makes Decision on Remaining in Cleveland