(Photo: Complex)
3. Myles Garrett: And then, three were left. Watching him play his college ball at Texas A&M, I immediately became sold on him. He received unanimous All-American honors for his play. The Cleveland Browns made him the number one overall pick in 2017 in the NFL Draft and it was the best thing they ever did. Since coming into the league, he’s been a bully to anyone who has to defend him or try to block him. He made his “Best In The Business” debut in 2022 and he’s back. Hello Myles Garrett. You’re in at number three and my top-ranked defensive player entering this season.
This is one of those guys you create on Madden. I’m talking about the tall, athletic players who have zero weaknesses. Myles is the rare combination of size, speed, strength, and flexibility. I see a man with every attribute as a pass rusher. The first step is as fast and electric as I’ve ever seen and trust me, I’ve seen my share of EDGE rushers over the years. Myles brings the fight each time he’s on the field and if you have the assignment of blocking him, you’re in for it. I know he loves to play basketball and that shows on the football field. Can any of you tell me a time when you’ve seen a pass rusher add the euro step to their arsenal? Myles can fake as if he’s going one way, then cuts the other way, and by then, he’s already in your backfield making a play. It’s unreal and I know pass rushers add many moves to use, but a euro step? That’s different, but hey, whatever works. When you watch the film on him, notice how much quicker Quarterbacks get rid of the ball when they see 95 in their paths. The way Myles covers the ground and bends is uncanny because to be as big as he is, he moves so fluidly. Anyone will tell you to double or triple-team him, but that doesn’t even work. I remember a game back in 2021 against the Baltimore Ravens. There were three guys ready to account for him and Myles beat them all and got home to sack Lamar Jackson.
Myles is a game wrecker and I know he makes life for Offensive Line coaches difficult up to game day against the Browns. His best performance in 2023 came against the Indianapolis Colts when he recorded nine tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and he even blocked a field goal. It’s not just pass-rushing with him. Myles can fill the stat sheet in other ways to impact the game. That particular game was what made him the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and he won the award for the first time in his career. He was the catalyst of a Cleveland defense that was one of the best in the league in ’23. Myles also posted 89 total pressures and 30 Quarterback hits along with ranking second in pass-rush win rate at 30 percent despite being double-teamed on 29 percent of his attempts.
