It all finally came together for Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett in 2023 and he got the award that he had been chasing.
Now, the question is whether Garrett can go out and repeat his Defensive Player of the Year season and win the award again.
In 2018 Aaron Donald won the award for the second year in a row and in 2015 J.J. Watt was able to do the same. Other than that, there hasn’t been a player to take the award in back-to-back years in recent memory. That is the task that is going to be at hand for Garrett during the 2024 season.
The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award was the first for Garrett, despite it not even being his best season statistically. It was the best defense that he had ever played with, though. Garrett had 42 tackles, 14 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 16 regular season games.
In each of the prior two seasons to 2023, Garrett recorded at least 50 tackles and 16 sacks. Still, the award went to Nick Bosa and T.J. Watt in those seasons. In each of those two seasons, the Browns’ defense was not very good as a collective group. That changed with Jim Schwartz taking over the defense and it was evident in his very first season in charge in 2023.
The defense was not perfect in 2023 they were pretty bad on the road. That is one spot that the defense will look to improve and continue to evolve. Adding new wrinkles each season is how the top units in the league stay good. Garrett will be working with a new defensive line coach this season Jacques Cesaire.
Garrett has been healthy and consistent for the entirety of his NFL career. There is no worry about whether or not he will produce, that is going to happen. It seems as if we are still waiting on that season where Garrett pushes for somewhere near 20 sacks. If he is going to win DPOY again, it is going to take that kind of effort.
The history of the award tells us it is a rarity for the same player to win it in back-to-back years. That is the single biggest reason I don’t believe that Garrett will take the award. The next guy that is going to step up and win it could be Maxx Crosby or Micah Parsons.
Whether or not Garrett wins the award given to the best defensive player won’t change much. He’s surely in for another great season and will battle for an All-Pro spot undoubtedly. Week 1 isn’t that far off and Garrett has had success against the Dallas Cowboys, let’s see if he starts the season off quick.