GARRETT: STAR POTENTIAL
Former Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett had a message meant for Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in early February. The 21-year-old really wants to play for the Cowboys, and he has a plan for how the franchise can make it happen. He said it in an ESPN video, with a smile.
“I’m speaking to you, Jerry,” he said. “Listen, Mr. Garrett, make it happen. Dak Prescott is leading our team right now. I need you to take Tony Romo, take a couple picks and give ’em to Cleveland, so you can pick me up. Please. I’d love to play in Dallas. Make it happen.”
The smile on his face suggests he knows exactly how much of a long shot that is, but hey, it can’t hurt, right?
USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis projected Garrett to be picked No. 1 by the Cleveland Browns in his most recent mock draft.
“A 1-15 team that had just 26 sacks in 2016 and plays in a division that features three capable veteran passers could certainly use an elite pass rusher,” Davis writes. “Bet new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will certainly lobby to add Garrett to his four-man front.”
But regardless of which team picks him, Garrett has already said he won’t be at the draft. He told the Houston Chronicle he’ll be at home with friends and family instead.
“I know at the draft you can only have a select amount of people there,” Garrett said. “I knew I wanted to have everybody who’s ever affected my life positively and helped build me up all the way to where I am now — I wanted them to see what I’ve achieved and be a part of this big moment in my life. I’m happy to include everyone who’s been along that process.”
Last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff, was in attendance for his selection. But Garrett would not be the first player to be drafted early to miss the event. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Jameis Winston and the Tennessee Titans’ Marcus Mariota did not attend the draft in 2015 when they were selected with the first two picks.
Garrett follows his own path. In October, USA TODAY Sports’ George Schroeder found that he writes poetry, is an avid reader and sketches “people, places, animals, anything that pops into my mind.” On his playlist were Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, Genesis, Queen and Stevie Wonder, and before games he was known to listen to the jazz of Duke Ellington or John Coltrane.
Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin referred to Garret’s “low-maintenance” demeanor and called him “an unusual, different cat.”
“As soon as I step off, I go back to who I’ve always been,” Garrett said. “It kind of throws them off, how I transition from going onto the field and I’ve got to turn into a leader and be this aggressive guy, and then I turn into this goofy kid who listens to all kinds of music.”
As a junior, Garrett was a consensus All-American and had 81⁄ 2 sacks and 15 tackles in 11 games.
“Myles can get back there to the quarterback before the quarterback even has time to get to his second read,” Aggies wide receiver Christian Kirk said last season. “That’s the most ridiculous thing. He can overtake a game if he wants to. He just has that power.”