Pick Your Prospect: Myles Garrett vs. Solomon Thomas

theScore's Pick Your Prospect series takes an in-depth, head-to-head look at some of the top players leading up to the 2017 NFL Draft.

Positions
QB - Watson vs. Trubisky
RB - Fournette vs. McCaffrey
WR - Davis vs. Williams
TE - Howard vs. Njoku
DL - Garrett vs. Thomas
S - Adams vs. Hooker

Garrett vs. Thomas

Garrett has stolen all the headlines, is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick, and has been compared to everyone from Von Miller to Julius Peppers.

Thomas, meanwhile, has nowhere near the same hype, though he's still thought of as a top-10 prospect and possesses the type of ability that would've had more heads turning if not for the fact no one can take their eyes off Garrett.

So is Garrett the far superior prospect, or is Thomas closer to him than most realize? Let's find out:

Athleticism/Explosiveness

Garrett is a freak, plain and simple.

In college, he was a man among boys, and he should be able to dominate at nearly the same level at the NFL once he's had time to adapt. The former Texas A&M star's burst off the line is ridiculous, and he's not just a straight line mover, he's also extremely agile.

Thomas is also a very good athlete, but he's just not on Garrett's level - few are. He's fluid and has an explosive first step, though he's not elite in either category.

Garrett wins by a significant margin.

Advantage: Garrett

Pass-Rush Ability/Technique

Both Garrett and Thomas are advanced as pass rushers, though they also have significant room to improve - a scary thought for NFL offensive lineman.

Garrett could've just relied on his otherworldly speed and athleticism to create pressure, but he developed a diverse set of pass-rushing moves over his career. His spin move will likely embarrass countless offensive tackles at the next level, his bull rush is solid for a player whose strength isn't the main facet of his game, and he can create pressure from multiple spots.

Thomas is able to transition from speed to power well and does a good job at selling fakes and countering. He makes great use of his hands and is rarely engulfed by a blocker. Thomas just isn't outstanding in one area, he's a jack of all trades, master of none.

In terms of technique, the two players are close enough that this could be a draw if that was the only consideration, but Garrett's more naturally gifted ability to dominate around the corner thanks to his superior bend and speed lands him his second win over Thomas.

Advantage: Garrett

Run Defense

This is the worst part of Garrett's game, and the fact he's still a decent run defender highlights just how good the rest of his skill set is. His main issues are that he's overly aggressive and doesn't have the top-notch strength to consistently set the edge. The first is fixable and the second can be minimized. Garrett likely won't ever be a dominant run defender, but few outside linebackers in the NFL are.

Thomas' skills as a run defender start with his hands. He's able to keep himself disengaged from defenders and quickly and violently sheds blocks to make tackles. Despite Thomas' less than deal size, he consistently fills gaps and is tough to move. He will struggle if forced inside too much, but will, at the very least, be a solid run defender on the edge at the next level.

David lands his first, and likely only, blow to Goliath.

Advantage: Thomas

Size/Frame

While Garrett and Thomas weigh in a pound and an inch apart (Thomas is heavier, Garrett is taller), the latter has faced more criticism for his size.

The problem is that the former Stanford standout's game is best suited to playing a defensive end or tackle in a 3-4 scheme, but he lacks the necessary strength and frame to do so. Thomas will likely have to stay as an edge for most downs, but at that position, Garrett's superior length and more athletic build comes into play.

So, in reality, both are similarly well-built players, but Garrett edges it due to Thomas' "tweener" status.

Advantage: Garrett

Instincts

Not only is Garrett a crazy athlete, he's also a hard worker who possesses a high football IQ. He's rarely out of position, tracks running backs well, and diagnoses plays quickly.

Thomas, too, is a highly instinctive player. His situational awareness is good, as is his snap anticipation, and he consistently shows he knows when and when not to shoot a gap and when to disengage from blocks to make a play.

This is close, but once again, Garrett is even superior in the non-athletic traits. He was born to play football.

Advantage: Garrett

Overall Comparison

With all due respect to Thomas, this simply wasn't a fair fight.

Garrett is the type of athlete that only comes around once in a while, and coupled with his highly developed skills as a pass rusher, he should be All-Pro within a few seasons.

Meanwhile, Thomas has more significant questions about his game, namely where he will play and if he has the skill set to be an edge rusher who can consistently put up 10-plus sacks per season.

Cleveland may as well fill in its draft card right now.