Garrett absent due to some soreness in lower half

The contract tweaks moved “the vesting date of his guarantees back a few months,” allowing the Rams to bring Garrett and his record-setting deal aboard without issue. Garrett’s average annual value and contract length both remain the same. This move could allow the Rams to add another veteran or two, but we do not yet know exactly how Garrett’s money will be spread out over the Rams’ current and future books.

Schultz apparently texted Donald, 35, about whether he would consider coming out of retirement to play alongside new Rams EDGE Myles Garrett. Per Schultz, Donald responded by saying he is “for sure flirting with the idea,” and if he can “find the fire, it’s a possibility.” Donald also noted that this season’s Super Bowl will be hosted at the Rams’ SoFi Stadium, which appeals to him. Donald is still on the Rams’ reserve/retired list, so his 2024 salary can be reinstated if he decides he would like to return. According to Over The Cap, the Rams have $16.3 million in salary cap space this season. A potential return should not be expected. Retired players entertain returns from time to time, but most of the time, they decide to stay put. To be fair to Donald, though, it does seem like he is at least mildly weighing his options.

Shortly after Browns HC Todd Monken declined to comment on whether or not he expects Garrett to report to mandatory minicamp, we now have our answer. The 2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and single-season sacks record holder is now taking his talents to Los Angeles to help Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford’s push for a second Lombardi Trophy. Speculation around a possible trade for Garrett began swirling earlier this offseason after the team re-worked the language in his contract to make him more feasible to trade, and now, after months of insisting Garrett would be a Brown for life, Cleveland has dealt him away. It goes without saying that Garrett will provide a major boost to a defense that finished 10th in points allowed last season and fell just short of a Super Bowl appearance, even if it does come at the cost of losing a young star in Verse. Garrett signed a four-year, $130 million extension with the Browns last offseason and remains under contract through 2030, putting him under the Rams’ control for the next four seasons. In addition to Verse and a 2027 first-round pick, the Rams also sent a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third-rounder to Cleveland. Browns GM Andrew Berry said shortly after the deal was announced that talks were ongoing and nothing was official yet, but this seems like a done deal despite Berry’s best poker face.

Monken said the only thing he was assured of when taking the job as the Browns’ head coach was what was written on his contract. That doesn’t seem great. Garrett has been the subject of offseason trade rumors after the Browns modified the language in his contract earlier this offseason, and has notably been a no-show at team activities thus far. Should he not report to mandatory minicamp next week, it would be the most obvious sign yet of a clearly disgruntled player who could be looking for a way out. Garrett signed a massive four-year, $130 million contract extension last offseason, but now, it’s possible the 30-year-old pass-rusher would like to have a chance winning something on the football field while still in the prime of his career. Garrett set an NFL record 23 sacks last season on his way to winning Defensive Player of the Year honors. If he were to become available, it’s safe to say there would be plenty of teams lining up for a chance at his services.

Per NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Garrett’s bonus is fully guaranteed, but Garrett must still earn it. To do so, Garrett “must participate in 84.375 percent of the offseason workout sessions, participate in all minicamps, participate in all OTA days, and timely report to training camp.” Garrett is set to make an average of $40 million per year, but potentially giving up $1 million is still a bit surprising. The front office restructured his contract earlier this offseason, generating trade speculation. The team has publicly rejected the idea that Garrett would be traded. It is too early to say if Garrett’s absence actually matters — he can still hit the 84.375 percent mark — but his early absence is worth noting. Stay tuned.

The Browns modified Garrett’s contract language last week, in a manner that lowers Garrett’s dead money in the event of a trade, while also granting Cleveland extra time to work through bonus payouts for the next three seasons. Understandably, reporters, fans and NFL teams wondered if a trade was imminent. Evidently, the Browns have no desire to trade their star defender. Berry adds that he does not want to “waste a ton more breath on the topic.” Theoretically, this should put this story to rest.

Schefter detailed his conversation with the Browns while speaking to Pat McAfee, adding that the Browns “couldn’t have been stronger” in their remarks. Garrett’s recently reworked deal gives the Browns more salary cap flexibility, so this report makes sense. Could the Browns’ front office still listen to trade offers? Absolutely. For now, it sounds like the Browns plan to keep him, though.

Yates reports, “Garrett’s contract previously called for his option bonuses in 2026, 2027 and 2028 to be exercised by the 15th day of the league year.” Now, his contract has been amended to push that day back to seven days before the start of the regular season each year. Garrett also had $8 million of his 2029 and 2030 base salary converted to roster bonuses. Yates adds that “the payment of the option bonuses was also modified in a way that has benefit to Garrett.” So, the Browns gain flexibility while Garrett gets a boost. Most notably, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year’s contract is easier to trade; Cleveland takes less dead cap in the event of a trade while getting an extra five months in the offseason before paying bonuses for the next three seasons. The change in Garrett’s contract language certainly makes things interesting for the Browns’ future.

Garrett totaled 23 sacks this season, setting a new NFL record along the way. He notably won Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 as well, following a 14-sack season. The nine-year veteran has astonishingly totaled double-digit sack tallies in all but his 2017 rookie season. The 30-year-old defensive end deservedly signed a four-year contract, averaging $40 million per year last offseason.

Neither the Browns nor the Bengals were in the playoff race for this game, so all eyes were on Garrett as he chased the record for the second straight week. He made onlookers wait until the final minutes of the game before tracking down Joe Burrow behind the line of scrimmage for an easy takedown. He was previously a half-sack behind T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan for the record, through Strahan accomplished the feat when the NFL played just 16 games in a season. Garrett locked up his second Defensive Player of the Year award several weeks ago, but now he will hold a place in the history books as the most productive pass-rusher the league has ever seen.