2017 NFL Rookie projections: Cleveland Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett

Myles Garrett was the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, and in Part 1 of a 32-part series, a look at his projections as a rookie.

Being that it’s early June and we have just under two months until the first NFL preseason game, it’s time to project how all 32 first-round picks from the 2017 NFL Draft will perform in their first season. Thus, I am beginning a 32-part series on projecting each first-round rookie’s 2017 season, one by one.

We start with the first overall pick, Cleveland Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett.

It was blatantly obvious that if the Cleveland Browns weren’t going to select a quarterback with the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft — it was going to be Garrett. For once, the Browns did something smart.

Garrett, the 6-4, 272-pound EDGE rusher who recorded 31 sacks and 47 tackles for loss in 34 career games at Texas A&M, has been compared to the likes of Von Miller and Jadeveon Clowney combined. The Browns entered this draft, as they do almost every year, with holes all over their roster. However, the Browns finished the 2016 NFL season tied for 30th in the league with 26 sacks — upgrading their pass rush was a must.

More from NFL Spin Zone

Now, Garrett enters a situation where, yes, he is automatically the Browns’ No. 1 pass rusher. But he has some growing talent behind him that will contribute as well.

Emmanuel Ogbah led the team with 5.5 sacks in 2016, and although that isn’t an impressive number for a team leader, that was good enough to rank fifth among all rookie pass rushers. He has room to grow as well, but his athleticism numbers are suspect in expecting him to become a number one pass rusher.

Per Justis Mosqueda of Bleacher Report, only two pass rushers with similar agility drill times to Ogbah have been “hits” in the NFL since 2005: Brian Orakpo and Tamba Hali. All three players ran the 3-cone drill between 7.25-7.3 seconds, which ranks in the 44th percentile or worse in comparison to NFL defensive ends.

So, the odds are against Ogbah ever being a true No. 1 pass rusher, but he does give Garrett some relief from Day 1 as he grows into his role.

The Browns also added some interior defenders in this draft that will create pressure for Garrett to get home and record sacks. However, as both Larry Ogunjobi and Caleb Brantley will face a learning curve in their rookie year as well, it will take time for the defensive tackles and Garrett to form chemistry.

Garrett’s mix of explosion, power, and speed is wowing (per Mockdraftable.com):

Explosion: 41-inch vertical jump (98th percentile among NFL DEs) and 128-inch broad jump (96th percentile)
Speed: 4.64-second 40-yard dash (88th percentile)
Power: 33 bench reps (94th percentile)

All point to Garrett being a top-tier pass rusher in the NFL. His college production, which I stated above, is the icing on the cake for Garrett as a prospect.

However, Garrett’s supporting cast will likely hold him back to start his career. I noted earlier that defensive tackles Larry Ogunjobi and Caleb Brantley are both rookies competing for the 3-technique position, and Danny Shelton, who is entering his third season after an improved second season, is at nose tackle.