Myles Garrett or TJ Watt, revisiting a rivalry.

By Trevor Speetzen November 22, 2024 05:42

Photo by Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

With the first overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Myles Garrett out of Texas A&M. Approximately 30 picks later, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected TJ Watt out of Wisconsin.

Ever since their draft day, these two players have been stars for their teams and for the league. Both of them are first-round picks, all-pro players and defensive player of year award winners.

It makes sense that the two most dominant pass rushers in the NFL today are playing in the same division for rival teams.

In their most recent matchup, the Browns beat the Steelers 24-19 with Garrett having a good game and Watt being kept quiet most of the game. Despite the team victory, the argument about which player is better continues to grow.

So far in his NFL career, Garrett has been a marquee, franchise player for the Browns. Before his arrival in Cleveland, the Browns only had one playoff appearance and two winning seasons.

Since his arrival in 2017, Garrett and the Browns have been in the playoffs twice; once in 2020 and most recently in 2023.

Garrett’s individual numbers are impressive as well. In eight years he has recorded 95.5 sacks, 328 tackles, 19 forced fumbles and one defensive touchdown.

Those stats earned him accolades such as the aforementioned defensive players of the year award in 2023, five pro bowls and two first-team all-pro honors.

While Garrett has been impressive for the Browns, it’s safe to say that TJ Watt has been just as impressive with Cleveland’s arch-rival: the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Coming into the league, Watt had a lot of pressure to live up to his name. He’s the younger brother of JJ Watt, who is a three-time defensive player of the year award winner and is likely heading for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Watt has definitely lived up to that legacy with DPOY win in 2021, along with six pro bowl appearances and four first-team all-pro honors.

In stats back up those awards. In his eight years in the league, Watt has recorded 104 sacks, 437 tackles, 31 forced fumbles and seven interceptions. Like Garrett, Watt also has only one defensive touchdown.

Watt has also helped the Steelers to four playoff appearances in 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2023. However, Watt has yet to win a playoff game so far in his time with Pittsburgh and he didn’t suit up in last year’s playoff due to a knee injury.

Even though the teams haven’t lived up to expectations, Garrett and Watt have. The two players have similar stats and accolades and it so happens that the league’s best pass rushers see each twice a year.

In their race for the DPOY last season, Garrett edged out Watt in a really close vote. Leading up to the week 12 matchup, Garrett had a few words to say leading up to the Browns-Steelers game.

“Two of the very best in the same division play each other twice a year and fans hate each other,” Garrett told the media. “That kind of stuff gets you excited and I know we both feel it and get a little bit juiced up for the matchup.”

Garrett got the last laugh as the Browns defeated the Steelers 24-19 in their week 12, Thursday night matchup.