Garrett’s need to play meaningful games has rarely been quenched in his eight years with the team that selected him.

He was traded to Cleveland with the first overall pick in 2017, an infamous season in which the Browns became just the second team in NFL history to go 0-16.

A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, Garrett has played in just three postseason games – two in 2020, when the Browns earned their first playoff win since 1994, and again in a lopsided 45-14 loss to Houston last season Texans.

Despite the loss, this trip to Week 18 provided optimism for the future, especially given that they managed to go 11-6 with five starting quarterbacks.

This season started out like this, with Deshaun Watson taking the lead under center, but he struggled as he has throughout his tenure in Cleveland, suffering a season-ending injury for the second straight season. That led to the Browns once again engaging in quarterback roulette, sitting at 1-6 with the chance of a playoff return fading. In the last seven games it has been Jameis Winston. On Sunday against the Bengals, it will be Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Although the defense has also declined, falling from 13th in scoring last year to 26th and plummeting from first to 18th in yards allowed, the offense has slumped even more. The unit that ranked 10th in points scored in 2023 is now the third-worst in the league.

Of course, a big part of this is due to inconsistencies at quarterback.

“Absolutely,” Garrett said when asked if the plans he hopes to see include the QB spot. “Whether (Thompson-Robinson) is the solution or someone else, it needs to be worked out. There has to be an action plan.”

Garrett, who turns 29 in eight days, is laying this all out in the open as he has two more years left on his contract since it was extended in 2020.

Almost since his arrival, Garrett has been unparalleled on the Browns’ defense. If he wants to be informed of plans that involve winning again sooner rather than later, Cleveland would be wise to make it happen.

“I want to be a Cleveland Brown,” Garrett said. “I want to play here. I want to end my career here. But if we decide to rebuild and it’s another two, three, four years, I want to be able to compete at a high level and play meaningful games and play beyond January.”