Cleveland Browns: Where does Myles Garrett fall on Mel Kiper Jr.’s rookie big board?
Where does Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett fall on Mel Kiper Jr.’s rookie big board now, compared to right before the NFL Draft?
Mel Kiper Jr. came out with his latest rookie big board, and Myles Garrett debuted at No. 9.
Garrett’s played just two games, but has already accumulated 3.0 sacks. His snap total increased from 19 plays to 33, and he had had seven quarterback pressures against Deshaun Watson and the Texans.
Garrett has been easing his way into his NFL career after missing the first four games of the season with a high ankle sprain.
The Browns have understandably proceeded wth caution when it comes to getting the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft on the field.
Kiper wrote…
",,,His playing time is only going to increase for an 0-6 Cleveland team that needs playmakers. Garrett is an athletic specimen (4.64 40-yard dash and 41-inch vertical at 6-4, 272 pounds at the combine) who spent the entire 2016 season atop my Big Board. He was the No. 1 pass-rusher in a really good class of them — he had 32.5 sacks in his three seasons at Texas A&M."
Here’s how the rest Kiper’s big board played out.
1. Kareem Hunt, RB, Chiefs; 2. Deshaun Watson, QB, Texans; 3. Tre’devious White, CB, Bills; 4. Marshon Lattimore, CB, Saints; 5. Leonard Fournette, RB, Jaguars; 6. Carl Lawson, DE, Bengals; 7. T.J. Watt, OLB, Steelers; 8. Jourdan Lewis, CB, Cowboys; 9. Garrett; 10. Kendall Beckwith, LB, Titans.
Only four players in the top 10– White (No. 32), Lattimore (No. 9), Fournette (No. 7), Garrett (No. 1)–were listed in Kiper’s final big board of the spring leading into the draft.
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The top two names are tough for Browns’ fans to swallow, because Hunt grew up in northeast Ohio and played his college ball bat Toledo.
The Browns, of course, hand delivered Watson, who looks like a franchise quarterback, to the Texans for a first-round pick in 2018.
Hunt, and in particular, the players the Browns didn’t draft such as Watt, Lewis and Beckwith are frustrating. The organization draws rave reviews for stockpiling picks, but it’s another thing to go out and pick impact players.
On a positive note, at the least the pick the Browns appears to the player we all thought he could be. Of course, the question with Garrett, will always center around injuries until the Texas A&M product proves other wise.
Rookie tight end David Njoku also appeared on Kiper’s list at No. 26. He was drafted 29th overall, so he’s at least playing above his draft position.
The 21-year-old has 14 catches for 118 yards and three touchdowns.
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Safety Jabrill Peppers, the player the Browns selected (25th overall) after trading down for Watson, did not crack Kiper’s top 32.