by As the Cleveland Browns endure another disappointing season at 3-11, defensive end Myles Garrett appears to be losing some confidence.
Garrett, who spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the Browns, is committed to staying loyal to Cleveland. But for the first time, the five-time Pro Bowler seemed open to the possibility of joining a more successful team.
When asked if it was more important to him to finish his career in Cleveland or play against a Super Bowl contender, Garrett said he wants to be in a situation where he wins more.
“First and foremost, I want to win and I want the Browns to put me and us in a position to win,” Garrett told reporters. “I’m not trying to rebuild. I’m just trying to win. And I want that to be clear when the season is over and we have these conversations. I would like you to be able to illuminate and illustrate this for me so that I can see it in the near future. Because that’s all we want to do.
Garrett was selected No. 1 overall by the Browns in 2017 and has spent his entire career there. In 2020, he signed a five-year, $125 million contract extension with the Browns, reaffirming his commitment to the team. Although Garrett said he would like to stay with Cleveland long-term, it will depend on what the team can do for him.
“I want to stay loyal to a team that showed me loyalty and confidence in me by drafting me, but at the end of the day we have to do what’s best for us,” Garrett added Friday.
Garrett, who has two years left on his contract with the Browns, is currently in the prime of his career. He has 31 solo tackles, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles so far this season and has been a bright spot for the Browns in 2024. He is the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year and is tied for fourth most tackles Lose the league this year.
Throughout the season, Garrett has reiterated his desire to stay in Cleveland, including last week. “I want to be here and I will be happy playing for Cleveland,” Garrett told reporters last Friday. “We all have to go in the right direction, we all have to be on the same page. Until then, I will be here, happily playing for the team that picked me.”
But the feeling of being on the same wavelength could change. The Browns lost 21-7 at home to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, moving the team to 3-11 and cementing another losing season.
Part of the problem is Cleveland’s historically large, $230 million, fully guaranteed contract with quarterback Deshaun Watson, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in October. Watson’s contract was a huge gamble that definitely didn’t pay off and instead hindered the team financially.
Cleveland still has three games left in the season, with a match against national rivals the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Based on what he said, Garrett seems likely to be weighing the possibility of leaving after the season ends or at least having some real conversations with the Browns about their plans to do better next year.
