Perhaps it should not be a surprise for Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett at this point, not considering the fact that he just set the all-time record for sacks in a season. And perhaps it should not be a surprise in the broader context, in which Garrett was tabbed the best player in the NFL by the top analytics site Pro Football Focus two years ago, in 2023, and finished second in 2024.
But in 2025, Garrett has taken the top slot on the PFF 101, the list of the site’s 101 best players in the NFL. The only other Browns player to make the list was linebacker Devin Bush, whose breakout season led into his impending free agency. Bush was No. 43 on the PFF list.
But it’s Garrett, after recording 23.0 sacks–his previous season high was 16.0–who tops the list, after also leading the NFL with a career-high 33 tackles for losses and winning his second Defensive Player of the Year award.
Browns’ Myles Garrett Has Been No. 1 Before
In celebrating the Browns’ star, PFF noted that the one time Garrett was not first on the list in the past three years, he was second.
From PFF: “Garrett reclaims his title as the best player in the NFL after finishing second to Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson a year ago. He set the single-season sack record and led all defensive linemen with a 93.3 PFF pass-rush grade, putting together one of the NFL’s most prolific seasons for a defensive player.”
Of note, too, about Garrett is that he is the rare pass-rusher who is also an excellent run-stopper. As much as Garrett gets credit for his ability to get after and take down quarterbacks–and the numbers show he is among the best ever, if not the best ever at that skill–he was also an outstanding run-stopper during his record-breaking season.
The 93.3 pass-rush grade was impressive, but so was Garrett’s run-stopping grade, which was 82.5. At a position where players are often not asked to be too concerned about the run, Garrett was No. 3 in the NFL.
Browns Paid Out Record-Breaking Contract
This, of course, is why the Browns made Garrett the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history last year after Garrett requested a trade from Cleveland, frustrated with the direction of the team. It was a landmark four-year, $160 million contract.
But it’s also why the Browns might be playing with fire by not choosing to keep defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz on board after Schwartz was a candidate for the head-coaching gig. The job went to Todd Monken, which angered Schwartz and caused him to leave the Browns altogether, including walking out on the last two years of his coordinator’s deal.
Myles Garrett Might Miss Jim Schwartz
Garrett is a big fan of Schwartz, and it’s still not clear whether he will feel the same about new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg, hired by the Browns this week from the Falcons.
Said Garrett earlier this month: “I don’t think I get two DPOYs without Jim. He helped mold my potential as a player to put me into a scheme and a system that fit me well and enabled me to do what I do best—pin my ears back, rush the passer,” Garrett said. “Attack the front. You see the front, you attack it. See ball, get ball.
“And for us as edge rushers, that’s the easiest way to play. Once you make us start going lateral, that’s what the offense wants. They want to be able to mess with our eyes, have different options. You slow our feet down, you’re taking away one of our advantages. We’re smaller than the guys we’re going against. So, do we get there? I mean, it’s about the guys we’ve got in the building. So, we’ve all got to be pointed in the right direction. We’ve got to all understand the mission and take it with urgency.”
Browns’ Myles Garrett Gets Eye-Opening Title From PFF