Dawgs By Nature
Browns voluntary activities continue without the team’s star defender
We have hit the portion of the NFL offseason that can often lead to frustration for fans and media: Voluntary OTAs.
The Cleveland Browns started their first OTA session on Tuesday following Memorial Day. In between voluntary activities is a mandatory minicamp where players are subject to fines if they decide to skip. Currently, the Browns do not seem to have any player with a contract dispute (unlike down in Cincinnati and other places) so, barring excused absences, the whole team should be in attendance starting on June 10th.
The most notable absence from the first session of voluntary (there is that word again) OTA is DE Myles Garrett. Fresh off an offseason where he demanded a trade before signing a huge contract extension, Cleveland’s star defender is taking in the sights and, seemingly, house hunting in Japan (via his Instagram Story):
In general, fans expect players to give their all to the sport and their team. Given Garrett’s huge new contract, those expectations are even greater.
All in all, Garrett’s absence is mostly meaningless. Early offseason activities are focused on simple installs of formations and teaching techniques. Garrett, and other veterans not in attendance, have little need for those things, which allows coaches to spend more time with the new and younger players.
Where attendance can be helpful is for positions that require as much timing work as possible. Quarterbacks and receivers can use the repetitions to get a better connection, as can offensive linemen in learning to work together. While it can be helpful, teams can be very successful without having everyone in attendance at voluntary activities.
If Cleveland struggles in 2025, it will have nothing to do with Garrett being in Japan. Are the optics potentially problematic given his offseason complaints? Sure, but all that matters are things that directly impact performance on the field. Missing voluntary activities are unlikely to do so.
Fans will always want more from the highest-paid players on a team and, especially, after Garrett’s offseason trade request. Could it help his leadership role, his teammates' buy-in and fans’ opinions if he were at every activity? Most certainly. Will it have any kind of significant impact on the results of the 2025 season? Unlikely.
Unfortunately, there is no way to prove one way or the other.
We know our DBN community is passionate and smart about football, do you think Garrett’s absence is meaningless or a significant concern for the Browns this year?
Share your thoughts below in our comment section and see what other fans think there as well
