1st overall pick Garrett: 'The only thing holding me back is me'
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is setting ambitious goals ahead of his rookie season after being selected first overall Thursday.
Garrett was considered the consensus best prospect in this year's event, drawing comparisons to Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller.
The 21-year-old believes that he may be practically unstoppable ahead of his first campaign with the Browns.
"I want to be the best. The only thing holding me back is me. I have to learn from the veterans, just pick everybody's brain to know what they did and to stay on track, to stay focused and not get off track at all with their goals and their dreams," Garrett said on a conference call Thursday. "Going for the rookie sack record and those lofty goals is something that I want to do, but I just want to be the best from Day 1."
Garrett isn't lacking confidence and said he models his game around the NFL's preeminent edge rushers.
"Von Miller, definitely, J.J. Watt, (Julius) Peppers, and (former Broncos linebacker) Demarcus Ware. Those are the guys that I usually look up to the most and try to study the game the most," Garrett said.
The newly minted pro also revealed that Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith and legendary wide receiver Randy Moss attended his draft party.
Bruce Smith came to my door, and we went over film and had a little lunch – one of my very favorite pass rushers of all time. Just having him here, teaching me how I can do better, it was great. There is stuff I can work on. You saw the little plays where I did not give all my effort, and was tired and I did not sprint all the way through the ball. Those are plays that you can see, and that motivates you to do better. You are not going to have great plays every single time. You have to build off the little details and the weaknesses. Randy Moss is one of my favorite players of all time. To see him, it kind of blew my mind. It kind of showed me that this night was not only special for one reason.