One of the best things about football is how each player impacts the others. A great cornerback can make the safety’s job that much easier. A great run-stopping defensive tackle leads to better play from the linebacker behind him. A stud quarterback can lift the performance of the offensive line, running back, and pass catchers.
For the Cleveland Browns, DE Myles Garrett is the tide that lifts all ships, the straw that stirs the drink, and the peerless defender in all of the NFL. This century, Garrett and Joe
Thomas are 1 and 1a among the best Browns, but the current star is gaining on many within the organization’s total history and could be considered in the same tier as Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Clay Matthews, Dick Schafrath, Gene Hickerson and Leroy Kelly.
According to Pro Football Reference’s Approximate Value, Garrett is sixth on Cleveland’s all-time list, with Thomas just in front of him. Given Garrett’s 2025 pace, his spot will move up quickly, especially with another Defensive Player of the Year award and if he breaks the all-time sack record.
So far this year, Garrett has more sacks by himself than three other teams:
Myles Garrett has more sacks by himself (18) than three teams through 12 weeks (Carolina Panthers, Bengals, 49ers).
This hilarious stat has been making its rounds on social media and highlights just how dominant Garrett has been recently:
In a communique from the NFL to the media, we learned of even more ways Garrett’s season and career are special.
Garrett has 75 career games with a sack since entering the NFL in 2017 and is the fourth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least 75 games with a sack in his first nine career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers DeMarcus Ware (79 games) and Reggie White (79), as well as Von Miller (77).
Garrett has 18 sacks this season, surpassing Mark Gastineau (17.5 sacks) for the second-most sacks in a player’s first 11 games of a season since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White (19).
Garrett, who has 18 sacks this season and had 16 sacks in 2021 and 2022, is the third player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least 16 sacks in three career seasons, joining J.J. Watt (four seasons) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White (four).
Garrett has 26 tackles for loss this season, the most by a player in his team’s first 11 games of a season since 2000, surpassing Von Miller (24 tackles for loss in 2012 with Denver) and J.J. Watt (24 in 2012 with Houston).
With the Browns still figuring things out on offense, Garrett’s performance will need to continue to be next-level in order for the team to win more games down the stretch. More wins will help Garrett’s season feel more special and get the recognition it deserves. If miracles happen and Cleveland wins out to finish with a winning record, Defensive Player of the Year should only be the first award Garrett brings home. At that point, we should hear “The Most Valuable Player in the NFL for the 2025 season is Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett!“
