Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett a major Defensive Player of the Year threat

Cleveland Browns star edge rusher Myles Garrett should be considered a favorite to be the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

The Cleveland Browns are going to be one of the most interesting teams in the NFL in 2019. They have done an incredible job of building their roster in recent years and are now primed to make a serious postseason run this season. After all of the years of turmoil, the Browns quickly becoming a big-time threat will be the biggest story of the 2019 NFL season if it were to happen.

If the Browns have the success that we expect them to have in 2019, defensive end Myles Garrett is going to be a major reason why.

Cleveland landed Garrett with the first overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. He made an impact as a rookie with the Browns, piling up seven sacks in 11 games, but he really took the next step as a second-year player in 2018. Last season, Garrett proved himself as one of the premier edge rushers in the entire NFL, sacking the quarterback 13.5 times and adding 29 quarterback hits.

With an elite combination of size, length, power and athleticism, Garrett has it all on the edge. He consistently explodes off of the ball, uses his length extremely well and bends around the edge with ease. Garrett has an expansive pass rush repertoire, using a variety of moves that allow him to attack around the edge and to the inside.

Garrett is best used as a pass rusher. This is where he is going to make the most impact. That being said, he is also a strong run defender who can hold ground in two-gap situations and also penetrate through the line of scrimmage.

Simply put, Garrett is a freak athlete up front who has massive upside. He was fantastic last season but I think he is set up for even more success in 2019. The Cleveland Browns improved their defensive line this offseason, adding defensive end Olivier Vernon and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson to the mix.

Adding Vernon and Richardson to the defensive line with Garrett and Larry Ogunjobi gives the Browns arguably the best starting front four in the entire NFL. Garrett will certainly receive plenty of attention, but opposing offensive lines will not be able to focus on him too much. If they do, these other dynamic defensive linemen are going to eat them alive.

With a better group around him and the expected growth of an already dynamic player, Garrett should take a major step forward in 2019. He has a legitimate chance to join the likes of Khalil Mack and Von Miller as one of the premier edge rushers in the entire NFL.

Add in the Cleveland Browns as potentially the best story in the NFL, I could see Garrett making a serious run at the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. There will be plenty of competition, but Garrett has good of a chance as anybody.