The NFL Defensive Player of the Year award race continues to heat up as the season winds down, and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is squarely among the top candidates.
Garrett is among the most prolific defensive players this season with 13 sacks and 26 quarterback hits this season. He hasn’t registered a sack in four games, but still ranks among the best pass rushers in the league in win rate, per ESPN, despite lots of double teams.
So when reporters asked assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone which Browns player has been the teams’ MVP, Ventrone wasn’t shy to anoint Garrett as the best player in Cleveland … and the NFL.
“I’ve never been around a football player like that guy,” Ventrone said. “It’s unbelievable. And I think when you actually get to see him in person, it just looks way different.
“And to me, he’s hands down – it’s not even a question. He’s hands down the best football player in the league. Defensively, he’s hands down the best. There’s no one that’s even remotely close to him, in my opinion.”
"i've never been around a football player like that guy"
help us get Myles to the #ProBowlVote ➡️ https://t.co/gXX21jB4wi@Flash_Garrett | @VividSeats pic.twitter.com/sWmmQ9HBpe
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 21, 2023
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski gave a very adamant endorsement of Garrett for DPOY earlier, too. He said Garrett is the obvious choice for the award and “I don’t think it’s close.”
Garrett will have some stiff competition. Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons and Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt are hot on his trail with a plethora of sacks between the two as well. Garrett’s DPOY odds rank second behind Parsons, per BetMGM, at +165.
Garrett has three games left to stake his claim to the award against the Houston Texans, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals.
