Browns' Kevin Stefanski campaigns for Myles Garrett to win major award

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski left no doubt while speaking with reporters on Monday that he feels All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett should win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award for the 2023 season. 

"I don't think it's close," Stefanski added about DPOY conversations, as shared by Jake Trotter of ESPN.  

Garrett was labeled as a favorite to claim Defensive Player of the Year honors and as a candidate to possibly earn Most Valuable Player votes before he suffered a shoulder injury in Cleveland's Week 12 loss to the Denver Broncos on Nov. 26. The 27-year-old failed to record a single sack across the club's past four games, and ESPN stats show he began Monday ranked seventh in the league with 13 sacks on the season. 

"To get so wrapped up as we do as a football society, when it comes to sacks, I mean, just talk about the guy that affects the game, that pressures the quarterback, that plays the run, that plays with unbelievable effort," Stefanski said about Garrett. "He's the best player on the best defense in the league right now. Go put the tape on."

According to ESPN, the Browns finished this past weekend surrendering a league-best 261.1 yards per game on the season. Meanwhile, Garrett recently was fined after he complained about Jacksonville Jaguars blockers allegedly getting away with holding and other penalties during Cleveland's Week 14 victory. Replays and pictures showed Garrett was on the wrong side of multiple non-calls during Cleveland's 20-17 win over the Chicago Bears that improved the Browns to 9-5 on Sunday. 

"He's frustrated, I'm frustrated when he's getting held, and that's something that we'll continue to talk to the officials about," Stefanski said about Garrett on Monday. "And I understand that's a tough gig, but I do think it's something that we need to make sure that is addressed. With that in mind, the way Myles is playing is unbelievable."

As of late Monday afternoon, oddschecker listed Garrett as second among the betting favorites at +200 odds to win Defensive Player of the Year. Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys topped the list at +125 odds at that same time. 

Garrett's next chance to close the gap will come when Cleveland plays at the 8-6 Houston Texans this Sunday.