Myles Garrett, the defensive superstar for the Cleveland Browns, stepped into the glare of the team’s media room on March 14. Dressed in an all-brown suit, he represented a new beginning as the franchise and team prepare to move forward from the past year. As training camp opened near the end of July, he said he had even higher expectations for the upcoming season. Expectations are higher than ever, Garrett said, underscoring the conviction the team holds in its ability to succeed.
Looking back on the last season, Garrett said that morale was down after seasons ending ugly with a missed 2024 ballot campaign. “After the last game, I can tell you the spirits weren’t high,” he remarked. He further elaborated on his disappointment, stating, “This is probably a more disappointing season [than the 0-16 season in 2017], because of what we expected out of ourselves and what we were building the year before.”
A Shift in Team Dynamics
Throughout the 2024 season, Garrett was very much in touch with Browns ownership. He was heavily involved in conversations with owner Jimmy Haslam and General Manager Andrew Berry to discuss the direction of the team. This internal dialogue allowed us to heal some rifts that had created a significant level of dissatisfaction inside our organization. “But they did what they were supposed to,” Garrett noted. Business stuff, just usual business, just trying to keep the principal cast of characters, myself, Joel, and finding a quarterback. With enough chatting about, I was able to get everybody back on grownup.
The Browns’ quarterback position has seen plenty of action, most notably trading Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders. That decision has opened the door to a great opportunity to gauge both of these rookie quarterbacks. They’re positioning themselves for what many pundits believe will be a QB-rich draft class in 2026. For Garrett, who’s been working hard to attract young talent, it’s a golden opportunity. Having some urgent looking QB questions, he sees the upcoming campaign as a vital time for development.
Garrett’s confidence in his teammates is supported by their performance over the course of this year’s training camp. Though building on a foundation that’s already welcoming new talent to the roster, he has hopes for a strategic competition. “We expect every player to compete. Simple as that,” Berry stated, underscoring the team’s commitment to fostering a culture of excellence.
Future Prospects and Expectations
The Browns hope to head into 2025 season with a strong roster and some clear strategy in place. The club still owns two of their own first-round draft picks in 2026. This makes for an excellent position to be in when they address future needs at quarterback or elsewhere. Garrett’s record-setting $135 million contract extension averages $40 million a year. This deal emphasizes his overwhelming value to the franchise and the high stakes they’re playing with during this pivotal period.
Garrett is looking for a big bounce back after the deep, murky trenches of last year, individually and as a collective unit. “I expect to bounce back from last year, myself and defensively and as a team,” he declared. So, like the energetic banana, the standard never gets easier or at least it never gets easier in a bad way. It just raises and improves.
With training camp in full swing, Garrett is laser-focused on getting the right chemistry with his teammates. He’s preparing for their home season opener this week against the Cincinnati Bengals. The locker room has come alive with fresh enthusiasm. Players uplift each other, motivated by the common desire to win.
Building Trust and Team Cohesion
As we navigate these changes within the lineup Garrett’s veteran leadership will be key in building trust between teammates. Glenn Cook, the team’s assistant general manager, highlighted Gabriel’s trust gained through hard work during camp: “[Gabriel] gained a lot of trust from the coaching staff just in terms of how he worked, and we feel good about it.” This feeling is indicative of a greater dedication to building a family that can flourish during fire.
As we move further into training camp, the major storyline and question mark heading into 2023 for Miami is quarterback play. Dillon‘s preparedness has not gone unnoticed either. “So, look, every player is a play away, and I know Dillon’s going to prepare and put himself in position, and if he needs to be ready, he’ll be ready,” Cook added.
What’s established here through training camp will carry over into the long season that awaits. Garrett shows the way and helps to lift everyone’s spirits. Everybody’s hopeful that this year’s team will outplay those projections.
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