Written by Albert Breer at MMQB
“Hello, Cleveland!”
Those were the words of NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock as Texas A&M phenom Myles Garrett crossed the finish line of the 40-yard dash in a staggering 4.64 seconds on Sunday, putting a bow on the show that most scouts expected he’d put on here at Lucas Oil Stadium. And that run by Garrett, who weighs 272 pounds, only punctuated what everyone knew when we arrived in Indy: Garrett is the odds-on favorite to go first overall.
“He’s good,” texted an AFC exec from the stands, “like everyone knows.”
“Lol. How about him?” texted one AFC area scout assigned to A&M. “Special.”
How special? If Cleveland takes Garrett first overall, he’ll be the third edge rusher in the past 15 years to top the draft. Here’s how he stacks up, athletically, against the other two.
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M, 2017
6’4″, 272 lbs.; 40: 4.64; Vertical: 41″; Broad jump: 10’8″; Bench: 33 reps.
Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina, 2014
6’5″, 266 lbs., 40: 4.53; Vertical: 37.5″; Broad jump: 10’4″; Bench: 21 reps.
Mario Williams, N.C. State, 2006
6’7″, 295 lbs.; 40: 4.73; Vertical: 40.5″; Broad jump: 10’0″; Bench: 35 reps.
Myles Garrett’s size, speed and strength were on display at the combine, and that combination makes him an easy evaluation for NFL scouts.
In short, on Sunday at the NFL scouting combine, Garrett confirmed that he belongs with the freakiest of pro football’s athletes. (Good luck to a historically strong defensive back group that takes the FieldTurf today in trying to top what we saw from Garrett.)
And Garrett didn’t make the April 27 decision for the Browns any simpler. The reality is that the history of taking a pass-rusher first overall is just so-so (you can go back to Cleveland’s Courtney Brown in 2000 for more evidence), and the Browns haven’t had a real long-term answer at the most important position on the field since local folk hero Bernie Kosar led the team in the ’80s.
Big call? Yeah, probably the biggest one in an offseason full of those for the Browns.
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