Browns’ Garrett has a couple of Texans to target
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett wants to catch the Texans’ J.J. Watt in the NFL sacks race. Watt is tied for second at 11.5; Garrett has 10.
the top of the draft: Mitchell Trubisky (No. 2, Chicago Bears), Patrick Mahomes (No. 10, Kansas City Chiefs) and Watson (No. 12). The Browns had the 12th pick but traded it to the Texans.
“Just got to prove that they made the right choice against somebody who was a candidate for (the No. 1 pick),” Garrett said of Watson.
Interim coach Gregg Williams said he met with Watson when the former Clemson standout visited Browns headquarters in the buildup to the 2017 draft and liked him a lot. But Williams insisted he would still choose Garrett first overall if he had the chance to it again, and perhaps it’s easier for the coach to say that now because the Browns wound
up drafting quarterback Baker Mayfield at No. 1 this year.
“It’s not knocking Deshaun at all how it ended up with him,” Williams said. “People saw how much they wanted him with the interest level down there of what the Texans went about doing. Pretty good here, too, on how it has all shaped out.”
After a torn knee ligament ended Watson’s rookie season last year in early November, he has completed 66.1 percent of his passes this year for 2,807 yards and 20 touchdowns, with nine interceptions and a rating of 101. He has rushed for 345 yards and two TDs.
He is a dynamic dualthreat, but his style also gives defenders chances to rack up sacks. He has taken 37 sacks this season, ranked behind only the Dak Prescott of Dallas (45) and Eli Manning (38) of the New York Giants.
“He does give you a lot of opportunities, but those times you don’t get him, he’s throwing it to (receiver DeAndre Hopkins) for a touchdown,” Garrett said. “So you have to make sure you get him to the ground. You can’t let him dance back there forever or extend it out. He can run it to the sideline, throw it up and (Hopkins) has found a way to get open.”
Last season, Garrett sacked Watson in Houston during a Week 6 matchup. But Watson threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns as the Texans prevailed 33-17. Garrett hasn’t forgotten. “That’s in the back of my mind,” he said.