Defensive end Myles Garrett is the league’s best pass rusher after four days of play. The former No. 1 pick has been a big part of his Cleveland Browns’ success. If he keeps up the pace, he’s assured of the award for best defender of the year.

Munich – The game between the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings had left its mark. On Myles Garrett and his counterparts.

But while the Vikings’ offensive linemen were recovering from their tough duel with the Cleveland Browns’ defensive end the following day, Garrett was rudely brought back to sports reality after the 14:7 victory: a doping test.

Nothing unusual, the NFL, like other leagues, makes sure that no banned substances have been taken.

However, the NFL likes to examine individual players after dominant performances. They like to do it more accurately and faster.

As if what Garrett did on the field was superhuman. As if Garrett was too strong, too fast, too good that it couldn’t have happened naturally.

On social media, Garrett wrote: “You play once without long sleeves and you’re immediately tested for doping.”

Pictured are his straining muscles, which look like Arnold Schwarzenegger himself took him under his wing for the entire offseason.

I go sleeveless for one game and they hit me with a “you got a random drug test in the morning”🤦🏾♂️😂 pic. twitter.com/P3i2EMHuFD

– Flash Garrett ⚡️ (@Flash_Garrett) October 5, 2021

Duration burner Myles Garrett

But Garrett is not used to it any other way. His career trajectory reads like a template for the “perfect path”. “ESPN” ranked him as the fourth best player of his class in high school, offers from the nation’s top colleges were just rolling in.

He chose Texas A&M, amassing 31 sacks and 47 tackles for loss of space en route to a decorated college career.

He didn’t have to wait long for a call in the NFL Draft. The Browns selected him first overall in 2017. But even the seemingly perfect template has a kink.

Injuries repeatedly took the role of antagonist in the 25-year-old’s NFL career. To be sure, Garrett played big even with, or rather despite, the injuries. But his name often graced the Injury Report in the past.

Because of the injuries, it always seemed as if Garrett could achieve even more, but he wouldn’t. He would miss the final, crucial step from a very good pass rusher to the best pass rusher.

And Garrett has been through a learning process. The ill-advised helmet strike to Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph during the 2019 season had earned him a six-game suspension, but also allowed him to mature. 

Most sacks after four games

This season, he’s reaping the benefits. From the learning process and a healthy body.

To be in a league with Aaron Donald for the Defensive Player of the Year Award, you have to do special things. And Garrett is doing that.

After four games, he has six sacks – a league best – and 25 pressures – second best. And that’s despite being doubled on just under 25 percent of his snaps, meaning two offensive linemen are taking care of him.

“He’s our best player. He knows that. We know that. And the opponents know that. It’s no secret,” praised head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Paving the way for teammates

To judge Garrett’s impact, it’s not enough to look at the stat sheet. His presence draws double teams to him, which allows teammates Jadeveon Clowney or Takkarist McKinley one-on-one situations with the other offensive linemen.

Defensive coordinator Joe Woods occasionally pushes Garrett around at the line of scrimmage, setting him up on opposing guards who are no match for his combination of speed and power.

Myles Garrett learned how to teleport 🤯

(🎥 @BrandonThornNFL)
pic.twitter.com/Tz8TOejAT4

– PFF (@PFF) September 28, 2021

Not always do these plays result in a sack, but often he paves the way for other pass rushers or disrupts the quarterback throwing.

In run defence he acts with the necessary discipline to keep his side tight. With seven tackles for loss of space, he leads the league along with Von Miller.

As team captain, Garrett has also further established himself as the leader of the team: “Myles and Malcolm Smith call us together as a defence every Thursday and we look at the opponent’s plays and our own with the whole defence. That helps us all a lot and has helped us take the next step,” praised teammate Malik Jackson. 

Defensive Player of the Year candidate?

The Browns have three wins and one loss from their first four games thanks in part to Garrett. If he were to maintain that level, he’d break the record for most sacks at the end of the season.

With the bookmakers, the two-time Pro Bowler is currently the hottest candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

It would be the final step on the template of the perfect career run.