Myles Garrett can say definitively that he is the best player in the NFL.
Well, at least to Pro Football Focus' standard.
Pro Football Focus released their top 101 players list. On it were three Cleveland Browns players, with Garrett coming in at No. 1 overall. Some may argue he is overrated. But the acknowledgment is well deserved.
Here is what PFF had to say about Garrett's position as the No. 1 player in the league:
"With more help around him, Garrett took his already formidable game to another level, dominating like never before," Pro Football Focus writes. "Garrett finished the year with the league’s best pass-rush win rate and PFF pass-rushing grade, and he notched 89 quarterback pressures and 15 sacks. He was the Defensive Player of the Year and the best player in the game on either side of the ball."
Garrett had a special season. He was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.
However, Garrett didn't lead the NFL in sacks. He finished in seventh place with 14. He recorded just one sack in his final seven games, including the postseason.
Also on the list at No. 85 was cornerback Denzel Ward.
Here is what PFF had to say about him:
"The Cleveland defense was a completely transformed unit this past season under Jim Schwartz, and Ward was their best coverage defender. Ward broke up nine passes and snagged two interceptions over the year, allowing 51.5% of throws into his coverage to be caught."
Lastly, at No. 96 is linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
Here is what PFF writes:
"One of the most athletic defenders in the game, Owusu-Koramoah had games where he was all over the field making plays for the Browns. He finished the year with 61 defensive stops, and it was only his 15 missed tackles that dragged his overall PFF grade down from the very elite."
Cleveland was carried by its defense during the 2023 season. Having three players in the top 101 is proof enough of how good the Browns' defense actually was during the season.
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