Why the Browns’ Garrett believes CMC deserves the No. 1 spot in the NFL Top 100 originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
The annual NFL Top 100 List is famous for encouraging debate, but make no mistake – Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett wasted no time in revealing why he believes a 49ers superstar belongs at number one.
Garrett, the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, explained why he considers Christian McCaffrey most deserving of the coveted top spot on the prestigious list, which is voted on by the players themselves.
“No. 1 for me? Taking myself out of the equation, I’d say [Christian McCaffrey,]” Garrett said. “Breaks through the tackles, he [McCaffrey] He runs hard every time, I couldn’t stop the guy. I mean, running the ball, receiving the ball, the guy can also throw. He has dedicated himself to every facet of the game, ensuring he is as valuable as possible to his team. He’s like a renaissance man,”
While Garrett had the biggest compliment for McCaffrey, he can also hang his hat on the fact that Cleveland’s defense has had more success in slowing down the back’s momentum than any other San Francisco opponent during the 2023 NFL season. McCaffrey ran for just 43 yards on 11 carries in the 49ers’ 19-17 loss to the Browns in Week 6, his lowest single-game rushing total in a prolific campaign.
McCaffrey ran for a NFL-high 1,459 rushing yards during the 2023 season, recording 14 rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry. The All-Pro’s dynamism was on full display, adding an additional 564 receiving yards plus seven touchdown receptions in a season in which the do-it-all tailback made the N.F.L. Offensive Player of the Year honors
After receiving a lucrative contract extensionMcCaffrey is primed to remain in the Bay for years to come, terrorizing opposing defenses as San Francisco chases the Vince Lombardi Trophy that has eluded the franchise for nearly three decades.
