The Cleveland Browns need edge rusher Myles Garrett to make good on his new four-year, $160 million contract - but not yet, we suppose. originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

When do the Cleveland Browns need edge rusher Myles Garrett to make good on his new four-year, $160 million contract?

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Ideally, today. Tomorrow. Every day.

They need him to play as if he one of the best defensive players in the NFL. And by virtue of his status, his talent and yes, his new salary ... they need him to lead.

But do they need him to be at OTAs?

Garrett wasn’t in attendance for the team’s recent bout of OTAs. It wasn't a contract dispute; he already had that. It wasn't an injury issue; he's already had that, too.

Instead, Garrett is ...

In Japan?

Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot reacted to Garrett missing OTAs by revealing a simple but not fully satisfying truth.

"Myles has really, truthfully, whether we like it or not, a little bit of a different set of rules than everybody else," Cabot explained on the “Orange and Brown Talk” podcast.

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We don't mean to ruffle feathers here, but ... we don't like it.

The respected Cabot added, "He has kind of earned that by being the best defensive player in the NFL, by earning NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023, by being on the road to the Hall of Fame, and by getting himself ready every single year to go out there and dominate."

Sorry again about those feathers, but ... nope.

If we argue that guys don't need OTAs ... why do we have them?

If we argue that Garrett is already great without the work ... why can't he be even greater with the work?

If we argue that $160 million ought to buy the Browns a present leadership every single day? We believe we win that argument.

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Yes, training camp is coming on calendar and and Garrett stands to make an impact there, and most every Sundays he figures to do the same.

But, as we often wonder in these circumstances: "Different set of rules'' aside ... There is a month break between offseason workouts and the start of camp. Why can't a guy go to Japan then?

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.