In a recent turn of events, Myles Garrett applied pressure on the Browns.
As the team heads toward the final weeks of a tough season with several losses, Cleveland’s star defensive end made it clear on Friday that he does not want the team to go through another offseason of big changes.
Garrett expects to see the plans of the team’s owners and decision-makers, whatever they may be.
“I’m not trying to rebuild,” Garrett said. “I’m trying to win right now. And I want that to be apparent when the season is over and we have those discussions. I want them to be able to illuminate, illustrate that for me so that can be something I can see in the near future. Because that’s all we want to do.”
The NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Garrett is on track to reach 100 career sacks on Sunday in Cincinnati. While he made it clear that he enjoys being in Cleveland, Garrett is far from content with the current situation and hinted that a change might be needed at some point.
“I want to stay loyal to a team that showed loyalty to me and faith in me by drafting me,” said Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017. “But we have to do, at the end of the day, what’s best for us.
So, if we have that alignment where this is something that is still possible in the near future — winning, going deep in the playoffs, putting a great defense out there … I think that would really keep my mind at rest and keep me settled.”
Garrett, who will turn 29 next week, has two years left on his five-year, $125 million contract extension. Even though he’s known as one of the NFL’s best players, the Browns (3-11) have mostly struggled during his time with the team.
He can’t imagine playing anywhere else, but he understands there are no guarantees.
“I mean, it’s a possibility, but I want to be a Cleveland Brown,” he said. “I want to play here, play my career here. But if we choose to do a rebuild and it’s two, three, four years out, I want to be able to compete and play at a high level, play meaningful games and be playing past January.”
Cleveland went 0-16 in Garrett’s rookie year and has only made the playoffs twice since then. The team’s ability to improve its roster moving forward will be affected by the $230 million fully guaranteed contract the team gave quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has started just 19 games over three seasons.
Watson is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, and his future with the Browns is uncertain at best.
The Browns may need to draft a new quarterback, sign another veteran, or both. This week, they’re starting second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson instead of Jameis Winston, who has thrown eight interceptions in the past three games.
Garrett said he wants to understand what the team plans to do with the quarterback position.
“Absolutely. As uncertain as it is now from the outside looking in, it’s uncertain for us as well,” he said. “So if DTR is the solution or someone else is, it’s got to be drawn out. There’s got to be a plan of action and just got to know where things are going.”
Last week, Garrett expressed his support for coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, agreeing that the team has the right people in charge. Stefanski, who won Coach of the Year for the second time in five years last season, and Berry both signed contract extensions last summer.
Garrett said Stefanski is “a man of his word.”
“He says what he means, means what he says and he’s been there for us, whether it’s on the field or off the field,” Garrett said. “So if he says just we got your back or he’s got our back, then I know I believe it because he’s shown it, not just for me but with other guys.
“That goes a long way with us.”
