New Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken is not worried about star defensive end Myles Garrett missing the start of this week’s voluntary portion of the offseason program.
Garrett, who broke the NFL single-season sack record last season, had the language of his contract modified this offseason and often elects to participate in his own workouts away from the team.
“Myles will be ready. I’m not worried about Myles,” Monken said Wednesday. “This is voluntary for our players to be here. I think if you asked every coach in the NFL, would they like every player to be there? Of course. I think there’s certain parts of what we do from a connection standpoint that I think is important to be here (as well as) from a schematic standpoint. From a work standpoint? Not so much.
“And it is our job to make it to where the guys want to be here. I mean, not just by the job, but by the development, the camaraderie, being part of a team. And hell, I’ve been a part of a team since I was 5 years old — there’s nothing like it. I wouldn’t miss it, because that’s me, that’s how I’m wired. But it is voluntary.”
Garrett, 30, racked up 23 sacks in 2025 in his ninth season with Cleveland, which drafted him first overall in 2017. It was the first year of a four-year, $160 million extension he signed after initially requesting a trade last offseason.
Garrett has had double-digit sacks in each of his last eight seasons but blew past his previous career high of 16 set in 2021 and 2022.
The two-time Defensive Player of the Year’s 125.5 career sacks over 134 career games (131 starts) are tied for 20th all-time and rank third among active players behind Von Miller (138.5) and Cameron Jordan (132).
