The Cleveland Browns have found themselves at the center of an unexpected offseason whirlwind. When reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett opted to skip the team’s voluntary offseason program, it was easy for some fans to brush it off as a seasoned veteran simply taking a well-deserved rest.
However, as details emerge regarding the massive financial implications of his absence, prominent NFL voices are suggesting that this might be the beginning of a blockbuster shakeup in Cleveland.
Why Myles Garrett Missing Browns Voluntary Workouts Could Spark Trade Rumors
Garrett’s talent has never been in question. The reigning DPOY finished 2025 with a PFSN EDGE Impact metric grade of A, with a score of 95.6, ranking him No. 1 out of the entire NFL. However, his behavior has raised questions about how much Garrett wants to be in Cleveland and has opened the door to trade rumors.
The situation was heavily scrutinized recently on ESPN’s “Get Up,” where analysts debated whether Garrett’s absence was a standard veteran decision or a sign of deeper fractures within the organization.
When the panel was asked if the superstar edge rusher’s no-show was “something or nothing,” former NFL front-office executive Mike Tannenbaum firmly stated that it was definitely “something with a capital S.”
The conversation quickly escalated when analyst Peter Schrager proposed a massive hypothetical trade scenario: If you were the Dallas Cowboys, would you offer two first-round draft picks for Garrett, and more importantly, should the Browns take that deal?
NFL analyst Kevin Clark did not hesitate to answer, delivering a passionate response that echoed Tannenbaum’s concerns while officially raising the alarm bells for Cleveland’s front office.
“Yes, and the Browns should be listening,” Clark said. “Mike [Tannenbaum] capitalized the ‘S,’ I’m capitalizing the whole word in ‘something.’ You’re giving up a million dollars because you don’t want to hang out with your co-workers? That’s always a red flag.
“I’m putting up the windy fingers. Mike Tannebaum already alluded to it: the contract has been restructured, the bonus went from the league year to the start of the regular season, so the Browns aren’t paying out that bonus.
“What’s going on in Cleveland? I think if you’re a team that contends right now, that needs edge rush help, which by the way is about 31 teams that need edge rush help and about 10 of them are better situations this year.
“I’m calling Cleveland. I’m offering two first-round picks because I’m trying to figure out what’s going on in Cleveland.”
“I’m putting up the @WindhorstESPN fingers.” 🤣
—@bykevinclark on Myles Garrett’s absence from the Browns’ voluntary offseason program ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/9fjxVeDaYV— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 10, 2026
Clark’s assessment highlights several critical red flags for the franchise. Most notably, Garrett is willingly forfeiting a $1 million workout bonus. In the NFL, players rarely leave that kind of money on the table unless there is a significant underlying issue.
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Furthermore, the revelation that Garrett’s contract was recently restructured, shifting a major bonus payout to the start of the regular season, adds fuel to the speculative fire. It paints a picture of a team and a superstar player potentially at odds over finances, locker-room dynamics, or the franchise’s future direction.
While trading a player of Garrett’s monumental talent seems unfathomable, the NFL is a league driven by asset management. If the relationship is fracturing, the Browns would be wise to at least pick up the phone and listen.
