Regrading Cleveland Browns' Past 5 Drafts

The NFL draft is the best way for teams to build for the future. They can reload their rosters with players capable of starting immediately as well as developmental talents to be groomed to eventually replace veterans.

Sometimes these plans work. Other times, what seemed like a good idea turns out to be an abject failure. A lot of the time, the truth falls somewhere in between. But it's hard to tell without some distance.

Thus, let's take a look back at the last five Cleveland Browns' draft classes and regrade the selections, with an eye towards players who have not just contributed to the team but also managed to stick on the roster over the years. 

2010

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Year	Round	Player	Position
2010	1	Joe Haden	CB
2010	2	T.J. Ward	S
2010	2	Montario Hardesty	RB
2010	3	Colt McCoy	QB
2010	3	Shawn Lauvao	G
2010	5	Larry Asante	DB
2010	6	Carlton Mitchell	WR
2010	6	Clifton Geathers	DE

Clearly the highlight of the Browns' 2010 draft was the selection of Joe Haden in Round 1, for both his longevity with the team as well as his on-field contributions. A two-time Pro Bowler, Haden became a full-time starter in his second season, Haden has 87 career passes defensed, 16 interceptions and is a leader on the field and in the locker room.

Their second-round pick of T.J. Ward was a good one as well. Ward totaled 232 combined tackles, 24 passes defensed and five interceptions in his four years with the Browns, and he was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2013. Ward left in free agency in 2014 and resumed his Pro Bowl-caliber career with the Denver Broncos.

Running back Montario Hardesty suffered a torn ACL in his rookie-year preseason. Ultimately, he rushed 153 times for 537 yards and one touchdown and caught 16 passes for 138 yards. He landed on injured reserve again in 2013 and was released in late September of that year.

Quarterback Colt McCoy started 21 games for the Browns over three years, and he completed 58.3 percent of his passes and had 21 touchdowns to 20 interceptions in his time with the team. He was eventually replaced by Brandon Weeden in 2012 and was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2013, along with a sixth-round draft pick, for fifth- and seventh-round picks. He backed up Colin Kaepernick for one year before becoming a backup in Washington.

Guard Shawn Lauvao had 44 starts for the Browns but became one of the league's worst-performing right guards. He was allowed to leave in free agency in 2013.

Defensive back Larry Asante was placed on the Browns' practice squad in 2010. Later that year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked him up, putting him on their practice squad and was called up to their active roster late in the season. He then stayed with Tampa in 2011, went to the Indianapolis Colts in 2012 and now is with the Oakland Raiders. He had two starts in 2014 but ended the year on injured reserve.

Wide receiver Carlton Mitchell lasted only two years with the Browns. He caught three passes for 31 yards in 2011. Defensive end Clifton Geathers never played a game for the Browns. He became a journeyman, landing with Dallas (twice), Miami, Washington and others. He is currently a depth defensive lineman for the Steelers.

Of these players, only Haden remains on the Browns' roster. And of these eight players, only Haden and Ward made a positive impact in Cleveland during their playing careers. Thus, this was not a very successful draft for the Browns.

Grade: C-

2011

Mark Duncan/Associated Press

Year	Round	Player	Position
2011	1	Phil Taylor	DL
2011	2	Jabaal Sheard	LB
2011	2	Greg Little	WR
2011	4	Jordan Cameron	TE
2011	4	Owen Marecic	FB
2011	5	Buster Skrine	CB
2011	5	Jason Pinkston	G
2011	7	Eric Hagg	DB

The Browns' 2011 draft produced more starters than the 2010 draft did, beginning with stalwart defensive lineman Phil Taylor. Taylor has served as a defensive tackle, nose tackle and defensive end in his four years with the Browns. He was a defensive end last year but will be moved back to nose tackle for 2015. He has a career total 69 combined tackles and seven sacks. His 2012 season was cut short with a torn pectoral muscle. He also finished 2014 on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Linebacker Jabaal Sheard was one of the Browns' pass-rushers, serving as a defensive end in their 4-3 years and outside linebacker when in a 3-4 base. He had 122 combined tackles and 23 sacks in his four years with the Browns. He left this year in free agency and currently is on the New England Patriots' roster.

Wide receiver Greg Little had an infamous tenure in Cleveland, given that he was known more for his dropped passes (and excitement upon reaching a first down) than his yardage or touchdown totals. Little caught just 155 of his 312 targets while with the Browns for 1,821 yards and eight touchdowns. He was released last May and spent 2014 with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is currently a free agent.

Jordan Cameron came to the Browns as a tight end with a basketball background. As such, it took him a while to learn the intricacies of his position. By 2013, he had emerged as one of the Browns' biggest offensive assets. He reached the Pro Bowl that year, thanks to 917 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. His 2014 was marred by a shoulder injury. The Browns were part of a bidding war to retain the free agent's services this year, but ultimately he opted to join the Miami Dolphins.

Owen Marecic spent two years with the Browns, serving as fullback. He lost out to Brad Smelley and Chris Ogbonnaya in 2013, however, and then was signed by the San Francisco 49ers. 

Cornerback Buster Skrine went from a slot corner to boundary starter in 2014 and totaled 55 combined tackles and four interceptions, along with 17 penalties. After the season, he was a free agent—the Browns did not re-sign him and now he will be patrolling the slot for the New York Jets.

Guard Jason Pinkston was a 16-game starter in his rookie year. An injury in 2012, however, led Pinkston to discover he had a blood clot in his lung. He was placed on injured reserve with the clot leading to his 2014 retirement from football.

Safety Eric Hagg started four games in his sophomore season for the Browns and was their starting free safety to open the season. He was a disappointment, however, totaling just 30 career combined tackles with one pass defensed. He was released in May, 2013.

The Browns' 2011 draft class featured more players who contributed to the team than the 2010 class. But it also featured the likes of Little and Hagg, who never panned out. Pinkston has retired. Marecic couldn't hang on to the fullback job. Taylor is a talented player but he's also struggled to stay healthy.

Sheard, Cameron and Skrine all made positive contributions to the Browns' roster. But Cleveland could not—or chose not—to retain any of the three when the trio became unrestricted free agents this year. Only Taylor remains on the roster to this day.

Grade: B-

2012

David Richard/Associated Press

Year	Round	Player	Position
2012	1	Trent Richardson	RB
2012	1	Brandon Weeden	QB
2012	2	Mitchell Schwartz	OT
2012	3	John Hughes	DL
2012	4	Travis Benjamin	WR
2012	4	James-Michael Johnson	LB
2012	5	Ryan Miller	OL
2012	6	Emmanuel Acho	LB
2012	6	Billy Winn	DT
2012	7	Trevin Wade	DB
2012	7	Brad Smelley	FB

Round 1 of the 2012 NFL draft went notoriously poorly for the Browns.

Running back Trent Richardson, whom the Browns moved up to draft third-overall in 2012, was traded to the Indianapolis Colts after Week 2 of the 2013 season. Surprisingly, the Browns received first-round draft compensation from the Colts. Richardson did not last long there, either, and he now is with the Oakland Raiders.

Quarterback Brandon Weeden lasted but one year as a full-time starter. He started five games in 2013, including the season-opener. A thumb injury sent him to the bench and eventually Brian Hoyer sent him packing. Weeden was cut in 2014 and now backs up Tony Romo in Dallas.

Mitchell Schwartz has been the Browns' starting right tackle for the entirety of his young career. It's possible he keeps the job for 2015, but he could also be moved to right guard. Schwartz was Pro Football Focus' 33rd-ranked offensive tackle for 2014 and their 13th-ranked right tackle.

John Hughes has been an important component of the Browns' defensive line rotation, so much so that they gave him a four-year, $14.4 million contract extension this offseason despite him missing 11 games in 2014 with a knee injury. He has 85 total combined tackles and four sacks in his career.

Wide receiver and kick returner Travis Benjamin is an undersized deep threat with impressive speed. Still, he has caught just 41 of the 96 passes thrown to him over three seasons and 18 of 46 targets in 2014. He also has just 717 yards and five scores over three years. Though valuable as a punt and kick returner, the Browns could find those skills in another, more reliable receiver.

Linebacker James-Michael Johnson started eight games in his rookie season but was released in August of 2013 because he was not considered a fit for then-coordinator Ray Horton's defensive scheme. He is now an inside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ryan Miller appeared in eight games in his rookie season. However, numerous concussions have marred his career. He is now with the Dallas Cowboys but as Rotoworld points out, he is "a candidate for retirement."

Linebacker Emmanuel Acho's rookie season was spent on injured reserve with a leg injury. The following April, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles with the Browns getting running back Dion Lewis in return.

Defensive lineman Billy Winn went from long-shot to make the Browns' roster to a fixture of their defensive line rotation. He has 78 career combined tackles to date, three sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He primarily plays left defensive end but has taken snaps on the right as well.

Cornerback Trevin Wade totaled 11 combined tackles in his rookie season, appearing in 13 games. He was released by the team the following summer, bouncing to the New Orleans Saints in 2013 and Detroit Lions in 2014. He is currently with the New York Giants.

Fullback Brad Smelley initially beat out fellow fullback Owen Marecic for a roster spot in 2012, but then spent his entire rookie year on the practice squad. He was released in 2013 and has since spent two stints with the St. Louis Rams and one with the Houston Texans.

The 2012 draft was mostly a disaster for the Browns, who switched head coaching and front-office personnel a year later. Because of the switch, many of these players were ultimately dumped off or traded for ones who, at the time, seemed like better fits. The only true gems of this class for the Browns appears to be Hughes and Winn, who have outperformed expectations.

Grade: D

2013

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

Year	Round	Player	Position
2013	1	Barkevious Mingo	LB
2013	3	Leon McFadden	DB
2013	6	Jamoris Slaughter	DB
2013	7	Armonty Bryant	DE
2013	7	Garrett Gilkey	OL

The Browns went into the 2013 NFL draft with far more picks than the five players they came away with. But in a shallow draft, they opted instead to stockpile picks for future use as well as package two of them for Miami Dolphins receiver Davone Bess. That move decidedly did not work out.

In Round 1, the Browns addressed a major issue on defense and snagged outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo. Mingo, a speedy product out of LSU, appeared in 15 games in his rookie season, with three starts. His role expanded in 2014, with 11 starts and 15 games played.

He has totaled 42 combined tackles each year and seven sacks—five in 2013 and two in 2014. Though he's not getting to the quarterback as often as expected, he is a disruptive presence on defense. He is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and should be ready for training camp.

In Round 3, the Browns selected cornerback Leon McFadden. He appeared in 16 games with two starts in 2013, totaling 19 combined tackles and one pass defensed. He was released by the Browns at the close of 2014's training camp.

Defensive back Jamoris Slaughter spent his rookie year on Cleveland's practice squad, given the Achilles tendon tear he suffered during his 2012 season with Notre Dame. He never had a chance to prove himself to the Browns, however, with Slaughter being released by the team in April, 2014.

Seventh-round pick Armonty Bryant became an integral part of the Browns' pass-rushing defensive front, with 12 combined tackles and two sacks as a rookie. He played in 12 games with no starts but worked as a situational pass-rusher. He had 11 combined tackles and one sack in five games played in 2014. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in October but should reprise his role as a quarterback-targeting defensive end.

Offensive guard Garrett Gilkey appeared in six games for the Browns in his rookie year and had one start. He didn't turn enough heads, though, to remain even as a reserve offensive lineman. He was released during 2014's final roster cuts and landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Browns played it conservatively in 2013's draft, having seen few players who seemed capable of making a significant, long-term impact. Unfortunately, many of these players became roster casualties a year later, thanks in part to yet another coaching and front-office change. The two who remain, Mingo and Bryant, play important roles in the Browns' defensive front, but both have yet to play up to their full potentials.

Grade: C

2014

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Year	Round	Player	Position
2014	1	Justin Gilbert	CB
2014	1	Johnny Manziel	QB
2014	2	Joel Bitonio	OL
2014	3	Christian Kirksey	LB
2014	3	Terrance West	RB
2014	4	Pierre Desir	CB

The Browns were equally as conservative in 2014, parlaying their full complement of picks to multiple selections in the first four rounds. The depth Rounds 5 through 7 can afford was of no interest to the team last year.

With the first of two Round 1 selections, the Browns moved down—and then up again—to take cornerback Justin Gilbert. Gilbert had a successful rookie year on the field, when he played, totaling 29 combined tackles, an interception returned for a touchdown and eight passes defensed. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 60.4 percent of the 48 passes thrown his way to be caught and gave up one touchdown.

Off the field was a different story. With Gilbert repeatedly missing or being late for meetings, he ultimately was benched for the final game of the season as punishment. Head coach Mike Pettine chalked these problems up to a "personal issue" Gilbert had been struggling with. Gilbert has spent the offseason working with fellow cornerback Joe Haden,and defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil is "very optimistic for Justin in Year 2."

Fellow first-round pick, quarterback Johnny Manziel, was also no stranger to off-the-field controversy, whether stemming from his "wreck this league" text message to then-quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains on draft day or from his well-documented penchant for partying.

Manziel appeared in five games with two starts, having been put in the starting lineup after increasingly poor performances by Day 1 starter Brian Hoyer. Manziel completed 18 of his 35 pass attempts, for 175 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. The dual-threat quarterback also rushed nine times for 29 yards and a score.

Manziel entered rehab for undisclosed reasons in February of this year, recently checking out in time for Browns' organized team activities which began this week. He will battle with Josh McCown and potentially even Connor Shaw for the team's starting job this year.

Second-round 2014 draft pick Joel Bitonio may be one of the team's greatest selections of this five-year window. Bitonio started all 16 games at right guard in his rookie season and ranked as Pro Football Focus' fifth-best player at the position. He gave up just one sack, three quarterback hits and 11 hurries on the year. Bitonio could easily spend 10 years starting at guard for the Browns.

In Round 3, the Browns had two selections. They used the first on linebacker Christian Kirksey. Kirksey appeared in all 16 games in his rookie season, with eight starts. He totaled 81 combined tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and had three passes defensed. He split his on-field time between stopping the run and working in coverage against tight ends and slot receivers.

The second Round 3 pick was used on running back Terrance West. West was the Browns' leading rusher in 2014, with 171 carries for 673 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 11 passes for 64 yards and a score. Though the leader in yards, he was outscored by fellow rookie, the undrafted Isaiah Crowell. Crowell also bested him in yards per carry.

Rounding out the draft was Round 4 cornerback Pierre Desir. One of the draft's most compelling stories, Desir's winding story led him to small-school Lindenwood before being selected by the Browns. Desir appeared in five games in his rookie season with one start, and totaled nine tackles and one pass defensed. In his sole start, in Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers, Desir allowed six catches on nine targets for 61 yards and no scores.

It's hard to truly evaluate a draft class after just one year of service, especially with the Browns' two Round 1 players almost complete unknowns. But the Browns did meet glaring needs in the draft and found true gems in Bitonio, Kirksey and Desir. The 2014 draft class has a lot of promise. Time will only tell if these players will truly pan out.

Grade: B