Best and Worst Picks of the Browns by Round (Since the Return)

Because this years Super Bowl Media irresponsibly reports on only 2 of the 32 teams in the NFL, we here at SBS will retaliate by irresponsibly reporting on 1 team, the Cleveland Browns. If and when the Browns are one of the two teams getting this media coverage, we will continue to really only focus on the Browns. In this spirit, we at SBS look back and rank the best and worst picks (by round) of the drafts since the return of the Cleveland Browns in 1999. Thanks for the idea Andrew.

1st ROUND

Worst Pick:

Courtney Brown (DE) Penn State: Brown was hyped up coming out of Penn State as the #1 overall pick. He never lived up to the high expectations and showed he was not mentally tough enough to play in the NFL. Also considered was Jeff Faine, Tim Couch, and Willie Green.

Best Pick:

Joe Thomas (LT) Wisconsin: Clearly our top pick and the only multiple time pro-bowler drafted in the 1st round since the return. Don’t expect this to change any time soon.


2nd ROUND

Worst Pick:

Chaun Thompson (LB) West Texas A&M: Chosen as a developmental guy, he had all the size and speed you want, but there is a reason that players from a BAD West Texas A&M squad are not first day picks. OOPS.

Best Pick:

Eric Wright (CB) UNLV: Wright has developed into a very solid cornerback at this level. He has all of the physical tools that could have made him a 1st round pick, but character issues and moving from USC hurt his chances.
Also considered was D’Qwell Jackson. Jackson has been a great story and has become a good linebacker for the Browns. We expect Wright to end up being a better CB than Jackson is at LB so Wright gets the vote.

3rd ROUND

Worst Pick:

Travis Wilson (WR) Oklahoma: The self-proclaimed #1 WR in the draft was a bust. He never produced at the NFL level with the exception of off field talk. A stunning combination of his attitude and his ineptitude garner him this prestigious award.

Best Pick:

Daylon McCutcheon (CB) USC: While he wasn’t the biggest guy on the court he feared nobody. Just like me. D-Mac as he was affectionately called had a solid career in Cleveland, although it was cut short for health concerns. D-Mac was a good quality corner and an all around good guy to have on some of our worst teams.
4th ROUND

Worst Pick:

Beau Bell (LB) UNLV: As the Browns’ first pick in the ’08 draft Bell had perhaps a little too much hype. Supposedly our sledge-hammer MLB of the future Bell did nothing on the field in his rookie year before failing to make the team a year later.

Best Pick:

Anthony Henry (DB) S. Florida: Henry was a very solid CB for Cleveland during his tenure here. Henry continued to play well after leaving for Dallas via Free Agency. Without a doubt the best 4th round pick of the Browns since the return.


5th ROUND

Worst Pick:

Demario Minter (DB) Georgia: As we get into the later rounds it is hard to remember who the worst of these selections is. Therefore, I am going with who I was personally most disappointed in. For some reason I thought Minter was going to be a decent player. I was wrong and he is now our worst 5th round pick since ’99.

Best Pick:

Jerome Harrison (RB) Washington State: As you may have heard, Jerome “the Ghost” had a breakout second half of the 2009 season. This elevates him past the rest of the former 5th round picks. The only other player actually considered who deserves a shout out is Ryan Pontbriand. He is a former pro-bowler and is certainly a huge success. However because he is a long snapper and did not rush for the 3rd most yards in a single game, he is a close second to Jerome Harrison.

6th ROUND

Worst Pick:

Melila Purcell (DE) Hawaii: Besides having a girly sounding name, Melila did nothing after being drafted by the Browns. In fact it was pathetic, and pathetic players do not stay on the Browns, unless you are Hank Poteat.

Best Pick:

Lawrence Vickers (FB) Colorado: Vickers has been great since arriving from Boulder. This year he was a huge reason why the ground game came on strong at the end of the year. I believe he is pro-bowl material and its only a matter of time before he is there.

7th ROUND

Worst Pick:

All of them: Lets be serious, it’s the 7th round. We have not gotten anything from any of them except (because for some reason I am in a good mood) see below.

Best Pick:

Alex Hall (DE) St. Augustine: For a 7th rounder Hall has been alright. He plays on specials and has a little bit of pass rush ability.

Undrafted Free Agent

Worst Pick:

You actually expect me to name the worst undrafted free agent? Get a life.

Best Pick:

It rhymes with Joshua Cribbs. Enough said.