Last week, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett offered candid remarks about the team’s struggles during their disappointing 2024 NFL season and hinted at what could prompt him to leave the franchise. The 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year stated that he has no interest in enduring another rebuilding phase with the Browns. If the organization opts to head in that direction, Garrett admitted he would explore other options.
Garrett’s statements have ignited discussions about the Browns’ future and whether trading him for high-value draft picks might be the best course of action if the team embarks on a rebuild. The conversation has also brought renewed criticism of the Browns’ previous rebuilding efforts, particularly their failure to capitalize on multiple early draft picks.
Analyst Daryl Ruiter did not hold back in his assessment, calling the organization’s last rebuild, which followed the disastrous 1-31 seasons in 2016 and 2017, a missed opportunity. While acknowledging Garrett as a success story, Ruiter expressed frustration with the franchise’s inability to surround its defensive star with enough talent to maximize his potential. “This regime has not delivered the results,” Ruiter said. “Myles Garrett did work out, but he’s not wasting his Hall of Fame career here.”
Ruiter highlighted quarterback Baker Mayfield as a key example of the Browns’ missteps. While Mayfield struggled to find long-term success in Cleveland, he has thrived in Tampa Bay over the past two seasons. The Browns’ 2017 and 2018 drafts produced notable talents, including Garrett, tight end David Njoku, cornerback Denzel Ward, and running back Nick Chubb. However, the team also missed on several key picks, such as defensive back Jabrill Peppers, quarterback DeShone Kizer, and center Austin Corbett, underscoring the inconsistencies that have plagued the franchise’s roster-building efforts.
