Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, despite weathering another challenging season of double-digit losses, remains steadfast in his desire to continue his career in Cleveland. However, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year has made it clear that his patience hinges on the team's ability to show him a definitive plan for creating a winning environment soon.
Garrett has no appetite for a rebuild. Speaking candidly on Friday, he expressed his desire for a transparent conversation with the organization's leadership about their offseason strategy, especially regarding the quarterback position. “I’m not trying to rebuild,” Garrett stated emphatically. “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 illuminate and illustrate that plan for me, so I can see something tangible in the near future. Because that’s all we want to do.”
Highlighting his loyalty to the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2017, Garrett emphasized that his commitment to the Browns is tied to the team’s commitment to success. “I want to stay loyal to a team that showed loyalty and faith in me by drafting me. But we have to do, at the end of the day, what’s best for us. If we’re aligned on building something successful—winning, going deep in the playoffs, putting out a great defense—that’s what will keep me settled,” Garrett explained.
Now 28 years old, Garrett has two years left on the five-year extension he signed in 2020. While his current contract still carries weight, a potential new deal in the offseason could offer much-needed salary cap relief for the Browns. In his seven seasons with the team, Garrett has appeared in only three playoff games, a glaring statistic for a player of his caliber. The Browns have struggled to build a consistently competitive team around him, leaving him yearning for more meaningful football in January and beyond.
Garrett’s frustration is not with the people in charge, at least not entirely. He has previously voiced his support for head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, both of whom have been steering the Browns since 2020. However, Garrett’s comments on Friday signaled a growing urgency for clarity about the team’s trajectory. “I want to see the plans,” Garrett said. “Absolutely, that includes the quarterback position. Whether [Dorian Thompson-Robinson] is the solution or someone else is, it’s got to be drawn out. There’s got to be a plan of action.”
This weekend, the Browns are set to start Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round draft pick in 2023, following the recent benching of Jameis Winston. Thompson-Robinson will become the third quarterback to start for the Browns this season and the 40th since the franchise’s re-establishment in Cleveland in 1999. The instability at the quarterback position has been a recurring issue for the Browns and one that has hindered their ability to establish themselves as consistent contenders.
Further compounding the situation is the injury to Deshaun Watson, the team’s marquee acquisition. The Browns traded three first-round picks and signed Watson to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract before the 2022 season, but his tenure in Cleveland has been anything but smooth. Watson sustained a season-ending Achilles tendon tear in Week 7 this year, adding another chapter to a saga that has so far seen him post the lowest QBR among qualifying passers since joining the team.
For Garrett, these setbacks are frustrating but not insurmountable—provided there is a coherent and aggressive plan to turn things around. “I want to be a Cleveland Brown. I want to play here. I want to end my career here,” Garrett declared. “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.”
Garrett’s comments underscore a pivotal offseason for the Browns. The decisions made in the coming months will not only shape the team’s immediate future but also determine whether they can retain one of the league’s premier defensive talents.
Key Takeaways:
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Garrett, loyal to Cleveland, is seeking assurances that the team can become a contender in the near term.
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The Browns’ quarterback situation remains a central issue, with questions about whether Thompson-Robinson or another player will provide stability.
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Garrett’s potential contract extension could help the team navigate salary cap challenges while solidifying his role as a cornerstone of the franchise.
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Despite high-profile investments like Watson, the Browns’ lack of playoff success continues to weigh on the team’s key players.
For Browns fans and organizational leaders alike, the message is clear: Myles Garrett’s commitment to Cleveland is as strong as ever, but it’s contingent on the team’s commitment to winning. It’s now up to the Browns to deliver on that promise and ensure that one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive players can achieve his dreams without leaving the city he’s called home since 2017.
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