The calendar has flipped to June, and with it, the Cleveland Browns can finally move Myles Garrett without triggering the kind of salary-cap catastrophe that would have made a deal impossible before now. Whether they actually pull the trigger is anyone’s guess. But according to league insiders, what’s far more revealing is what Garrett’s actions — and inactions — over the past year and a half allegedly say about his true priorities.
A Star Who Preached Winning, Then Stayed for the Payday
Back at the Super Bowl in New Orleans last February, Garrett stood in front of Rich Eisen’s microphone and dropped what seemed like a mission statement. “It’s never been about the Hall of Fame for me. It’s not about money or records. You’re remembered for winning,” he said, according to video footage that quickly went viral. He went public with a trade request, name-dropped LeBron James to ask what it felt like leaving Cleveland, and made it sound like he was ready to bolt for a contender.
Then the Browns reportedly handed him a four-year, $160 million extension — the richest deal for a non-quarterback in league history at the time — and Garrett signed on the dotted line. The same man who claimed winning trumped everything inked a long-term commitment with one of the NFL’s most notoriously dysfunctional franchises. Sources close to the situation say the contradiction has not been lost on teammates or front-office personnel.
Body Language and a Billion-Dollar Cold Shoulder
If Garrett was unhappy then, his behavior this spring has allegedly made it crystal clear. When Cleveland hired Todd Monken as head coach in January, Garrett reportedly posted a meme of an exhausted fast-food worker on his Instagram story within hours — a move insiders interpreted as a not-so-subtle jab. Garrett had publicly backed defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for the job, and when Schwartz resigned shortly after Monken’s hire, Garrett allegedly made his displeasure known without uttering a single word.
Monken later admitted in press conferences that his communication with Garrett had been limited to “a handful of text messages.” Garrett skipped every voluntary workout session, forfeiting a $1 million bonus in the process. Now, with mandatory minicamp roughly a week away, sources say real fines could pile up if he remains a no-show.
The Restructure That Screams ‘We’re Ready to Deal’
General manager Andrew Berry has publicly stated that Garrett will finish his career in Cleveland. But what Berry hasn’t explained, according to financial analysts, is why the team restructured Garrett’s contract in late March in a way that produced zero immediate cap savings — yet made him far more tradeable after June 1. To many observers, that move speaks louder than any press conference.
The trade market for a pass rusher of Garrett’s caliber would be massive. Last August, the Dallas Cowboys sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay for two first-round picks and a defensive tackle — and Parsons was 26 at the time. Garrett, now 30, has racked up 51 sacks over the past three seasons, more than any other player in the league. Insiders say the asking price would start at two first-rounders and a meaningful piece, with some projecting even more.
So why is Garrett still wearing orange and brown? Because, as one league source put it, “where he plays doesn’t seem to matter as long as those checks keep cashing.” The Browns are still eating Deshaun Watson’s massive cap hit. Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel remain unproven at quarterback. The 2026 season is shaping up to be another forgettable chapter in Cleveland. If Garrett really wants to be remembered for winning, sources say, he’ll make it known by getting the hell out of The Land.
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