The absence could come with a financial consequence: Garrett’s contract includes a $1 million workout bonus for 2026, tied to attending at least 84.375% of offseason sessions, all minicamps, all OTA days and reporting on time to training camp.
Cleveland is operating under a new regime led by first-year head coach Todd Monken and a new defensive coordinator in Mike Rutenberg. Monken stressed that participation in voluntary activities is not mandatory, while signaling Garrett will be ready, and underscored the importance of building relationships early in the program.
Publicly, the Browns have pushed back on the idea that Garrett’s status is tied to trade discussions. The team recently reworked his contract to push option deadline dates closer to the regular season, but executives say Garrett remains a career Brown, even as trade rumors persist and he has publicly discussed his hunger to win a Super Bowl.
Whether Garrett shows up for voluntary workouts next week will be telling for the new coaching staff and the locker room alike. Historically, he has skipped these sessions, yet his on-field production—including a league-high 23 sacks last season—remains unimpaired, making his level of buy-in an important narrative to watch as the offseason progresses.
