Cleveland Browns

Myles Garrett just made the Browns' decision at No. 1 an easy one

Published Mar. 5, 2017 5:24 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

The Cleveland Browns have held the No. 1 pick in the draft three times. In 1954, they selected quarterback Bobby Garrett. Forty-five years later, they made Tim Couch the No. 1 pick. The following year, it was defensive end Courtney Brown. None of those three players ever played more than 62 games in the NFL, and all proved to be busts at the pro level.

On April 27, the Browns will pick first overall for the fourth time, assuming there's not a shocking trade at the top of the draft.

There are a bunch of worthy candidates to be taken with the first pick as this is a remarkably deep class. Jonathan Allen is a dominant defensive lineman, as is Solomon Thomas. Deshaun Watson, Mitchell Trubisky and DeShone Kizer are the top quarterbacks in the class, but it’s yet to be determined if they’re deserving of the top pick.

Regardless of how desperate the Browns are for a quarterback, there’s no doubt who should be the first player taken next month. His name is Myles Garrett.

The former Texas A&M defensive end was a standout pass rusher for the Aggies the past few years. You probably wouldn’t get that feeling by looking at his numbers in 2016, when he was battling nagging injuries all year long – 8.5 sacks and 33 tackles – but he’s the safest and best player in the 2017 draft. It might not be all that close, either.

He solidified his place as the premier prospect Sunday at the NFL Combine, running a blistering 4.64 40-yard dash at 272 pounds. It was 0.01 seconds faster than DeMarcus Ware, who ran 4.65 at 251 pounds – 21 pounds lighter than Garrett.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/838396333094404096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

That wasn’t the only eye-popping number Garrett posted. In the vertical, he jumped 41 inches, which puts him in the 97th percentile among pass rushers since 1999. It’s the same height Vic Beasley jumped a few years ago, which solidified him as a first-round pick.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/838435361776754689

Continuing the trend of Garrett’s wildly impressive day, he also jumped 10 feet, 8 inches in the broad, which is tied for third best among defensive linemen since 2006. And his strength? He went out and benched 225 pounds 33 times – tied for second best among defensive linemen this year.

Everyone knew just how talented Garrett was before he showed out in Indianapolis this weekend, but it’s unlikely anyone fully understood just how unique of a talent he is. He was being compared to everyone from Julius Peppers, Mario Williams and Jadeveon Clowney, posting similar numbers to all three players.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/838403117825716225

Does that mean he’s going to have a similar career to any of those guys? It’s certainly possible. Clowney has battled injuries up to this point, but he was dominant in 2016. Williams has been a solid player for a long time, and Peppers is still wreaking havoc in opposing backfields at the age of 37.

No one knows who to compare this kid to, and it’s a testament to just how rare of a talent he is. He can come in from Day 1 and make the Browns’ defense infinitely better. He’ll be a cornerstone defender for the next 10 years, likely putting up double-digit sacks in most of those seasons.

If Joey Bosa can come in and record 10.5 sacks in 12 games as a rookie, there’s no telling what Garrett will be able to do in his first season.

Sunday’s workout only proved the Browns have the easiest decision at No. 1 since Andrew Luck came out in 2012. There’s really no possible way the Browns can screw this up by taking Garrett first overall, then addressing their several other needs at No. 12. It’s at that point they can draft a quarterback, whether it’s Watson, Trubisky or Kizer.

The only way Cleveland can come away with another bust at No. 1 is if the front office decides to take someone not named Garrett.