The race for the Defensive Player of the Year award begins in Huntington Bank Field on Sunday when the Browns host the Cowboys to kick off the 2024 season.
Both sides feature two of the top three favorites for the award in Browns DE Myles Garrett and Cowboys LB Micah Parsons.
Garrett won the award last season after posting 14 sacks, four forced fumbles and 30 quarterback hits. The three-time All-Pro has been called an "alien" by his teammates for both his natural athletic ability and his unwavering desire to improve each season.
"We all know the type of guy Myles is, I think he was born in a lab," DE Za'Darius Smith said during training camp. "The way he gets off the ball and just corners the pocket is just one of a kind, man."
Parsons has been a finalist for the award in each of his first three seasons as a pro. Last season, Parsons had 14 sacks and 33 quarterback hits. The product of Penn State was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021, and his versatility makes him one of the hardest players to game plan for as an offensive coordinator.
"He's a heck of a football player," Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said. "I mean, he's all over the field and does a lot of special things. He's unique in a lot of different ways."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their first regular season game this week against the Dallas Cowboys at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) and the defensive line during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) and Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) and Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Roy Istvan during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
The defensive line during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end Cameron Latu (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Tulu Griffin (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Parsons has made it clear this offseason that winning the DPOY award is one of his goals entering 2024. Garrett said Friday he expects the linebacker to want nothing less.
"I hope he wants to win," Garrett said. "He's a hell of a competitor. He's a great athlete and a great athlete for this game. So, I want that kind of confidence and him striving for greatness."
As Garrett looks to build off last year's performance, he believes the offseason and training camp prepared him for the season. Yet, he also looked to add extra elements to his game.
When offenses line up against the 6-foot-4, 272-pound Garrett, they often send two offensive linemen or have a tight end or running back throw a chip block at the pass rusher to try to slow him down as he charges towards the quarterback.
"We didn't have the best plan for the amount of help they were going to throw my way as far as chipping," Garrett said. "And I think this year, it's been more of an all-around input on how we can get everyone free, but like if they're going to do this towards me, there's a way to get me free. And there's also options where if they choose to continue to just double, triple, two chips, whatever it is. We'll find a way to use that kind of attention towards me to let the other guys eat."
While the two elite defenders are competing for accolades and championships, there is nothing but mutual respect between the two.
"Garrett's one of my favorite rushers," Parsons said earlier this week. "He has such a great acceleration, and his power, strength and length make him exceptional. And outside of just a great football player, he's a great person."
Parsons shared that when he was in Tokyo over the offseason, Garrett texted him a list of restaurants to check out.
"And they were some really good restaurants too," Parsons said.
Both defenders will be looking to eat on Sunday as they strive to earn the recognition of top defensive player in the NFL. As the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Garrett is also looking to become just the ninth player to win the award multiple times.
"Let's see if we can duke it out," Garrett said. "Let's see what happens."
