3 Reasons Myles Garrett Could Be Best Current Era Pass Rusher With NFL Record In Sights

Cleveland Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett is having a tremendous season, where he is on course to break the league’s single-season sack record, which currently stands at 22.5.

Michael Strahan was the first to record such a number when he went ballistic in the 2001 season. Evidently, after recording that many sacks, he was deservedly awarded the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award.

Fast-forward two decades, and Pittsburgh Steelers star TJ Watt was on course to break the record, but only managed to match Strahan’s number in the final game of the 2021 regular season.

He, too, won that year’s DPOY award, despite missing 2 full games and a few snaps in three other games. Had he played in all those games, maybe the record would have been in his name.

The Browns star also has a DPOY to his name, which he won in 2023. Surprisingly, he did not win the sack title, which went to the Steelers’ pass rusher.

Now, Garrett’s season tally stands at 18 after eleven games. This means he has 6 more games to garner just 5 sacks to ensure the record stands in his name, at least for the time being.

More importantly, Watt and the Browns’ star have been trading blows as to who is the league’s best pass rusher of this era. Despite the arguments for the Steelers star, it seems Garrett could end up with that label.

Myles Garrett vs. T.J. Watt in pure skill terms

Both Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt came in at opposite ends in the 1st round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Since then, both have nearly as many accolades as the other, except in sacks.

The Steelers star has usually dominated the regular season totals, which explains why he has 3 Deacon Jones Awards to his name. If both had the same numbers this season, Garrett would lag behind the Wisconsin star by a few quarterback takedowns.

That is because the Steelers’ edge rusher is primarily tasked with rushing the quarterback. He also occasionally tries to stop the run, but generally that job is handled by his defensive line mates.

Watt uses both power moves as well as his agility to get past defenders. Myles Garrett, on the other hand, is mostly a power rusher who uses his strength and ability to get off of offensive linemen to reach quarterbacks.

This season, the Browns’ star has upped the ante after facing criticism for signing a contract that many felt was not completely deserved. The Texas native has seemingly found ways to beat double teams, which he faced a lot in the previous years.

It is not as if TJ Watt is an inferior pass rusher. It is just that Myles Garrett has found new ways to get to a QB, which traditional power rushers have not been able to do.

Myles Garrett has used his run-stopping skills to rush the QB

In the past, Myles Garrett was tasked with doing a lot more than just sacking the quarterback, as the Cleveland Browns did not always have a good defensive line.

On many an occasion, the 29-year-old had to help stop the run, absorb double and triple teams to allow his fellow linemen to disrupt the quarterback’s throwing motion.

While stopping the run, Garrett seems to have figured out how to get off of offensive linemen to tackle the runner. He also probably learnt how to position himself to get his hands on opposing running backs without having to waste his energy in shedding his opponent’s blocks.

This season, especially as it was evident in his 3-sack performance in their win against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12, he could shed blocks easily or keep the O-linemen on point while moving around to get to Geno Smith.

It all seems like how high schoolers, who play multiple positions to gain experience and understand nuances, eventually implement some of those learnings in their game later in their careers. Myles Garrett is doing that in the NFL.

Myles Garrett vs. the stat sheet

A stat nerd looking at both Myles Garrett and TJ Watt might point out the differences in numbers, where almost across the board, the Steelers’ pass rusher is ahead.

However, what stat sheets do not show is how a defensive player forces offenses to change their game plans simply because he is on the field. As mentioned above, the 6’4″ never had stellar teammates to help his cause.

On the other hand, Watt has always had standout defensive tackle Cameron Heyward leading the line, and also at least one other good teammate playing alongside them.

The difference between being the leader and being one amongst a group of good players is massive. Garrett’s impact on the opponents may not show up on the stat sheet like Watt’s, but on several occasions, opposing offensive coordinators have specifically game planned against him.

The Browns’ star has long been referred to as the best defensive player in the league, but his sack statistics did not add weight to that argument. This season, he leads the league’s best defense, and those sack numbers are about to change.

Hopefully, by December 28th, when Myles Garrett goes up against T.J. Watt’s Steelers at home, the NFL single-season sack record and the tag of the best pass rusher in the current era will firmly be in the former’s hands.

Also Read:

• “I’m Not Gonna Live My Life Scared”: Joe Burrow Reiterates He Will Compete Despite Bengals’ 3-8 Record
• Ja’Marr Chase Finally Reacts to Spitting on Jalen Ramsey During Steelers Game