When the Cleveland Browns drafted Myles Garrett with the first overall pick in 2017, analysts were calling him a generational pass rusher, the type who only comes around every 20 years. This type of praise can often be a player’s omen, a sign of disappointing results like Jadeveon Clowney. But in this case, they were right.
Garrett, now a member of the Los Angeles Rams, was voted by execs, coaches, and NFL scouts as the best edge rusher in the league today … unanimously.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler did the
write-up on Garrett, sharing quotes about his versatility of moves and total lack of weaknesses:
“He doesn’t get enough credit for just how powerful he is and how you feel that up close,” an NFL coordinator said. “Everyone talks about Aaron Donald’s power, but Myles is just as strong.”
Garrett won on more than 20% of his 448 pass-rushing attempts despite facing a double-team nearly 30% of the time. What makes him great is what he has to overcome.
“He’s seen every type of help an offense can give — slide to him, chips from tight ends and running backs, only run plays away from him — and he has a game plan or counter for all of it,” a separate NFL coordinator said. “From a mental standpoint, it’s really impressive.”
As an NFC executive added, “His ability to feel and navigate at the line without much wasted movement is elite.”
The Rams paid a ransom for Garrett, giving up at least one first-round pick (another pick is a conditional first), and Jared Verse, another pass rusher who got a lot of pre-draft praise.
But they feel it’s worth it.
If you ask others around the league, clearly Les Snead and Sean McVay aren’t the only ones.
