Former Patriots DB would rather have T.J. Watt than Myles Garrett

Devin McCourty thinks it’s close, but favors Watt.

It’s a question nearly as old as time. A debate that has fueled sports talk for years. A conversation that seemingly won’t ever go away. For good reason.

It’s heightened with one party searching for a new deal. It might even include an attempt to one-up the other.

T.J. Watt or Myles Garrett: Who would you rather have on your team?

Garrett reset the market earlier this offseason by signing a four-year, $160 million deal to become the highest-paid edge rusher in football. The contract came after Garrett requested a trade out of Cleveland, prioritizing winning over anything else.

The Browns paid Garrett nearly $4.5 million more than the next highest-paid pass rusher (Danielle Hunter) to lock up their star. It was a move that made people scratch their heads and wonder, “What is Cleveland doing?” with $123.5 million guaranteed.

It seems everyone in Pittsburgh chooses Watt, and everyone in Cleveland picks Garrett. But who does the national media think is better? Jeremy Fowler of ESPN polled executives, coaches, and scouts, who named Garrett the better pass rusher – Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty thinks otherwise.

Appearing on 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday with me and Joe Starkey, the NBC Sports analyst picked Watt.

“It’s a win-win, but I would go T.J.,” McCourty said. “I think he has more game-changing plays.”

Comparing the two, both drafted in 2017, Watt is better in almost every statistical category.

Watt has earned more Pro Bowls (7-6), sacks (108-102.5), tackles (462-352), tackles for loss (126-116), interceptions (7-0), forced fumbles (33-20), and fumble recoveries (12-6).

“Whether it be interceptions or strip sacks, he always seems to come up in those crazy moments in games,” McCourty said.

Watt wants to be paid more than Garrett, and understandably so. Watt thinks he’s the better player, which he is, but the Steelers shouldn’t significantly overpay and make a bad decision just because the Browns did.

In all likelihood, the Steelers and Watt will reach an agreement, but a hold-out, or hold-in, looms as report day to St. Vincent College is one week away.