CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Browns rookie defensive end Myles Garrett was named to the Pro Football Writers’ Association All-Rookie Team, the PFWA announced Tuesday.
Despite being limited to 11 games because of ankle injuries and a concussion, Garrett registered 31 total tackles, including 19 solo stops and 11 assists, along with a Browns-best seven sacks and one pass defended.
Garrett was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M.
“I think the sky is the limit for Myles,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said in the final week of the regular season. “I don’t want to say what the number [of sacks] will be or anything like that, but I just think he has to take in everything he learned this past year, have a great offseason, stay healthy, and then, head into the offseason program ready to go.
“I think Myles is going to be one of the better pass rushers in this league. I still feel that. I see it, and it is just a matter of how that is going to happen and how that is going to unfold. I think it is definitely going to happen here pretty soon.”
In the lead-up to his NFL debut against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 8, Garrett talked about how much he looked forward to getting his first career sack, and it took him all of one snap to accomplish that goal in front of the home fans.
Late in the second quarter, Garrett once again sacked Jets quarterback Josh McCown.
Then, Garrett followed up the debut performance with sacks of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and Tennessee Titans signal-caller Marcus Mariota over the next two weeks.
Garrett registered his sixth sack of the season against rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who was taken by the Bears with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of the University of North Carolina, and ended the year with a sack against Pittsburgh reserve Landry Jones.
“Myles did some good things,” Jackson said. “Coming off of the injury earlier in the year, came back, obviously, the first game was sensational. I think he started to get into the routine of the National Football League, just having to go against offenses when they prepare for him, when they are chipping him, when they are turning to him, when they are trying to cut him and just all of those different things.
“He went through that process, and I think he got on top of that and came back and kept playing stronger and harder. I think he understands that this is a grind. First seasons for guys are tough, but I’m happy with what he has done thus far. I want him to finish strong this Sunday.”
Willoughby South High School graduate Kareem Hunt (running back/Kansas City Chiefs), former Ohio State offensive lineman Pat Elflein (Minnesota Vikings) and former Glenville/Ohio State standout Marshon Lattimore (cornerback/New Orleans Saints) were also recognized by the PFWA.
Hunt was named the co-Offensive Rookie of the Year and Lattimore was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
