BEREA — The final step of the offseason program for the Cleveland Browns arrives this week. Once that goes by, the next thing up will be the start of training camp next month.

For now, though, the focus will be on Tuesday through Thursday. That's when the Browns conduct their veteran minicamp.

The rest of the offseason program, which started back in mid-April and ran through last week's final OTA sessions, was all voluntary participation. Minicamp, however, is the one thing in the offseason that is mandatory for every player.

While attendance was nominally taken by observers of the three open OTAs, it really wasn't relevant, even if players such as Myles Garrett, Amari Cooper, David Njoku and Dalvin Tomlinson were all regular no-shows. It most definitely will be this week, and all of those players are expected to be in attendance.

Here are four big things to watch over the final three days of the preseason.

How much does Deshaun Watson's throwing routine change?

Quarterback Deshaun Watson has been on a regimented throwing program as he continues his recovery from shoulder surgery. The routing, which started in mid-March, continued through the last two phases of the offseason program.

Watson threw every other day over the last month, and even those days were limited mostly to just individual drills. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated at the start of OTAs three weeks ago "that will change as we get into minicamp, obviously as we get into training camp."

Stefanski hedged on that when he was asked again about it last Monday at the Browns Foundation charity golf outing: "We'll see. I think I'm really waiting on medical when it comes to that. If they say he's ready to go, we'll throw him in there. But until then, we're trying to keep it by the day."

That's not a complete 180 from what he said on May 22. It is enough to make one question if Watson will be taking the next step in his program this week, or if the chance to see that will have to wait until training camp.

How does reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett look?

First off, the answer to that question will, almost certainly, be "great." It's hard to recall a time when Garrett didn't show up to whatever parts of the offseason program in which he participated looking like he was already ready to start the season.

This is really only a question because the fact Garrett hasn't been around throughout the offseason program, specifically the three OTAs open to the media. That has some people up in arms. It's not even that they're questioning his commitment to getting ready for the season, it's more about an appearance of leadership and his responsibilities within that realm.

Regardless of what side of that debate one may fall, there is definitely a difference to this year compared to last for Garrett. When you finally win NFL Defensive Player of the Year, it changes the narrative and the microscope under which the player exists.

So that's what is facing Garrett this week in Berea. It really has nothing to do with going through bag drills or running a non-contact rep against backup left tackle James Hudson III.

What does Amari Cooper say about his contract situation?

If there is an off-the-field storyline to keep tabs of this week, it's likely going to be about Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper's contract situation. Cooper is one of two prominent Browns receivers — Elijah Moore being the other — who is on the last year of his deal.

Moore, at least publicly, dismissed the contract situation when asked about it during OTAs. Cooper, though, wasn't present for those and hasn't spoken publicly since the wild card loss at the Houston Texans.

The question becomes more prominent based upon circumstances both with the Browns and with the wide receiver market as a whole. Both could have an impact on Cooper's future in Cleveland past this season.

The Browns went out and traded for Jerry Jeudy in mid-March to add to the wide receiver position. However, they quickly turned around and gave Jeudy — who was heading into the final year of his original contract — a three-year, $52.5 million extension, with $41 million of that guaranteed.

As for the positional market itself, Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson set the bar high with a four-year extension last week worth $35 million per year. Granted, that kind of money isn't heading the way of Cooper, who'll be 30 on June 17 and is entering his 10th NFL season.

Still. between what Cooper's new teammate received from the Browns, and the "rising tide lifts all ships" potential impact of the Jefferson deal, it is fair to wonder what he would and/or could demand. After all, Cooper's 2,410 combined yards the last two years ranks eighth in the league in that span.

How does the 'real' offense start to look like with players present?

As was mentioned before, two of the most prominent absences to all three open OTA sessions were the Browns' top two receiving threats: Cooper and Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku. What their absences meant was that, regardless of if it was Watson, Jameis Winston or Tyler Huntley throwing the ball, their targets weren't necessarily the top of the depth chart.

Jeudy also wasn't around for the last two open OTA. Elijah Moore missed the first open OTA, but was a participant in the final two.

With everyone required to be there, it's at least going to give a slight glimpse at what the offense potentially could become in its fully-formed self. For any number of reasons, any sweeping judgements from these three days would be comically stupid, but there's at least an outline from which real opinions can be formed once training camp begins.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns minicamp: Eyes on Deshaun Watson, Amari Cooper, Myles Garrett