Jordan Mailata is off to the best start of his career, but he faces a huge challenge at the Linc on Sunday.

Myles Garrett is coming to town.

And the reigning Defensive Player of the Year just doesn’t seem to have any weaknesses.

“If you find a weak spot, let me know,” Mailata said this week. ‘I’d like to know. It’s hard to find a weak spot in Myles’ game because the man is a monster. But we have a good game plan this week.”

Despite battling through a number of injuries so far this season and despite the Browns’ lack of team success, Garrett has still been disruptive. Through five games, the five-time Pro Bowler has four sacks, eight QB hits, two forced fumbles and four tackles for loss. Although Garrett rushes from both ends, he usually lines up on the right side of the defensive line. That sets up a fight with Mailata on Sunday.

Garrett already has 27 total pressures this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, and his exit time of 0.67 seconds ranks second in the NFL.

“I don’t even have to say anything,” Mailata said. “His film is a good example. I don’t have to say anything about him. Just watch the movie and see how explosive it is, how reactive it is. He has the fastest start in the competition. That stands out and then you see the length with which he plays, the strength with which he plays. Dude has a high football IQ.”

Mailata and Garrett met in 2022 and 2023 when the Eagles and Browns held joint workouts, first in Berea, Ohio, and then in Philadelphia. They had the chance to meet each other during training and then spent time discussing even more tips.

What does Mailata remember about the confrontation with Garrett?

“That was a long day. That was a long day,” Mailata said. “It’s been a few years. I’d like to think I’ve gotten better.”

Mailata said Garrett was able to give him tips on what he looks for in an offensive tackle during the rush — so where the tackle shoots into his hands and where the tackle’s hips are during a pass-blocking set.

Those tips helped Mailata. And he has worked to integrate what he has learned from Garrett over the past few seasons.

“Pretty valuable,” Mailata said. “It’s quite valuable to get all those tips from him.”

Garrett, 28, was the first overall pick in 2017 and has lived up to that draft status. He’s been an All-Pro three times, a Pro Bowler five times and has had double-digit scoring in each of the past six seasons.

But Mailata is no slouch either.

Through four games, Mailata was one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL. The 27-year-old has given up just one sack and seven hurries in 163 pass-blocking snaps this season. ProFootballFocus has Mailata ranked as the third-best tackle in the entire league.

But he hasn’t faced a test like Garrett has yet this season.

“It was such a unique situation because he’s one of the best guys out there,” Mailata said. “We sat there and talked to him forever. I think that’s what makes him such a bad player. He’s such a nice guy and then you go out on the field and he’s a nice guy and he’s trying to kill you at the same time.

Mailata seemed to really enjoy getting to know Garrett after training together in recent years.

But they haven’t kept in touch with it.

“No, that’s my fault,” Mailata said. ‘I haven’t contacted him. He told me to contact him after training and I got his number but I didn’t text him back. I’ve been busy.”

On Sunday, they will finally get a chance to reconnect. It promises to be a fun battle.

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