CLEVELAND — Prior to the start of the 2019 NFL season, Myles Garrett set the personal goal of being named the league's Defensive Player of the Year.
Through the first three weeks of the seasons, the Cleveland Browns defensive end has already put together a heck of a case.
Having tallied the second-most sacks in the league (6), as well as 12 total tackles and 1 forced fumble, Garrett has been one of the league's most impressive defensive players to this admittedly early point of the year. And the oddsmakers have taken notice, with online sportsbook Bovada giving the former No. 1 overall pick the third-best odds of being named the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year at season's end.
At +650, Garrett trails Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (+250) and Chicago Bears defensive end Khalil Mack (+400). For the betting uninitiated, Garrett's odds mean that a successful $100 wager would return a bettor a $650 profit.
The Garrett still trails Donald -- who has won Defensive Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons -- doesn't necessarily come as a surprise. While his production was limited to just two tackles through the first two weeks, Donald totaled 2 tackles for a lass, 1 sack and 1 QB hit in the Rams' 20-13 victory over the Browns on Sunday.
“I have to be the best defensive football player every night I step on the field,’’ Garrett said prior to the matchup. “That’s how you get the award. You’ve got to be consistent no matter who’s opposing you, so that’s the goal."
