With the 2023 NFL regular season rapidly coming to an end, it is that time during the campaign when players/coaches begin to vouch for teammates to win awards or specific accolades. Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has his team sitting at 9-5 despite having to start four different quarterbacks this season and credits edge rusher Myles Garrett as a reason why.
Since being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Garrett has been one of the most dominant defensive presences in the league. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro looks well on his way to another Pro Bowl and All-Pro appearance, but Stefanski thinks Garrett is deserving of more for his efforts this season.
"He’s dominant as a defensive player, so he’s the NFL Defensive Player of the Year," Stefanski said, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "I don’t think it’s close," Stefanski added.
Garrett currently ranks seventh in the NFL in sacks (13), but Stefanski believes Garrett’s impact goes beyond sacking the quarterback. "…I think what happens with our game, we get so wrapped up in sacks…" Stefanski said.
In addition to the 13 sacks he’s recorded, Garrett has 36 combined tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
"I don"t know that there’s anybody in the same realm as him [Garrett], Stefanski highlighted.
Garrett will have another chance to bolster his case for the NFL’s 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Award in Week 16 when the Browns travel to Houston to face the Texans.
