Myles ahead of the rest, Browns go with Garrett
Cleveland makes defensive dynamo top draft selection
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns didn’t mess around with the No 1 pick in Thursday’s NFL draft.
Myles Garrett was the consensus best player, and the Browns made sure he didn’t go anywhere else.
Although its biggest need remains a franchise quarterback, Cleveland selected Texas A& M’ s defensive stand out first overall, a pick that had been projected for weeks.
Following a dismal 1-15 season, the Browns are counting on Garrett and this draft — Sashi Brown, the club’s vicepresident of football operations called it “momentous” last week — to kick-start their turnaround and possibly end years of football folly for a once-proud franchise.
With two first-round picks, two in the second round and one in the third, the Browns have the assets to improve, and possibly to find that elusive QB after starting 26 since 1999.
But that’s been the hope before and years of blown draft picks, particularly in the first round, have hampered the team from making any significant progress.
The Browns had their eyes on North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky, a local kid who grew up a Cleveland fan, but he was surprisingly selected No 2 by the Chicago Bears.
With a chance to get Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson at No 12, the Browns sent that pick to Houston for the No 25 selection and the Texans’ first-round pick in 2018.
Houston then took Watson, a dynamic playmaker who led the Tigers to a national championship last season.
This wasn’t supposed to be a strong quarterback class, yet three were chosen in the top 12 picks — but not by the Browns.
Garrett, a freakish athlete who has been accused of sometimes taking plays off, could help change that. Cleveland has long lacked a dominant defensive player, the kind who can change a game with a sack or punishing hit.
Unlike many of the top picks who were in Philadelphia walking the red carpet and hugging commissioner Roger Goodell on a stage in front of 70,000 fans, Garrett was with family and friends in Texas when he received a phone call from the Browns.
“It was really just a weight off of my shoulders to finally get the announcement that what I have been working for has finally come to fruition,” said Garrett.
“I actually know where I am going, know who I am going up against and know the schedule.
“Now it’s time to put in that work so I can be prepared to go against the best.”
The 6-foot-5, 272-pound Garrett, who recorded 32.5 sacks during his three seasons with the Aggies, will join a Browns defense undergoing a muchneeded major makeover.
The team hired former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams this winter and signed linebacker Jamie Collins to a four-year, $50 million contract, locking up a player they can pair with Garrett to form their defensive foundation.
Cleveland ranked 31st defensively last season and the Browns were 30th in sacks with 26.
Garrett said the call from the Browns came on his mom’ s phone because his had “disappeared” during the watch party.
He spoke with Cleveland coach Hue Jackson, who said to the 21-year-old: “I told you you were my guy.”
Garrett is aware of recent criticism about his game, including remarks by Hall of Famer Warren Sapp, who called him “lazy.”
“It’s more fuel for the fire and it’s burning hot right now,” Garrett said. “It doesn’t matter what they say.”