Cleveland's Draft Disaster: 11 Years of Browns Busts

The NFL draft has proven to be nothing short of a disaster since the Cleveland Browns rejoined the NFL in 1999.

In that time period, they have made a total of 91 selections in the draft.  Of those 91 selections, only 19 players are still with the team, with seven of that number coming from this year’s draft.

Over 11 drafts since coming back into the league, the Browns have not only failed to draft players that can stay with their team, but they have also failed to draft anyone that has made a significant impact.

The most notable names to make an impact in the NFL were:

1999: Kevin Johnson, WR

2000: Dennis Northcutt, WR

2001: Anthony Henry, DB

2002: Andra Davis, LB

2003: Chris Crocker, DB and Ryan Pontbriand, LS

2004: Sean Jones, DB and Kellen Winslow, TE

2005: Braylon Edwards, WR and Brodney Pool, DB

2006: Kam Wimbley, LB, D’Qwell Jackson, LB, and Lawrence Vickers, FB

2007: Joe Thomas, LT, Brady Quinn, QB, and Eric Wright, DB

This list shows that not only have the Browns failed miserably in scouting potential NFL players, but they have not developed them well either.

This is why I beg the Cleveland Browns organization to choose wisely in the next NFL draft.  Last season I asked for impact players like Clay Matthews, Ray Maualuga, Brian Cushing, and Jarius Byrd at the bottom of the first round as we traded back three times.  I fell to my knees as we passed on Maualuga again to take Robiskie (who I still think is going to be an excellent WR).  And now I find myself shaking my head at yet another draft that could have gone so well for a team in the Browns' position.

The team is 1-11.  We are on the verge of a top-three selection in the 2010 draft.  Once again, there are the players out there to make an impact and solidify our horrid defense.  If stuffing the run is your first choice, the Browns can look no further than Ndamukong Suh , the versatile defensive lineman from Nebraska. 

After watching this kid play against Texas, I had dreams of him and Shaun Rogers tearing through offensive lineman to eat up Carson, Big Ben, and Flacco.

Then there’s our next wave of defense, the linebackers.  Personally, this draft has whatever you need.  Rolando McClain from Alabama will destroy you up the middle, while Sergio Kindle from Texas and Eric Norwood from South Carolina will dominate you around the end.

Then there’s the butt of all NFL jokes, our secondary.  Outside of Eric Wright, there is really nothing left back there, unless Mike Furrey is changing numbers from 87 to something in the 20s and making the permanent switch. 

This draft has the dominance at both the corner and safety positions.  Joe Haden from Florida is an athletic freak at the corner position and would provide the perfect compliment across from Eric Wright.  Then there are the bad boys, Eric Berry and Taylor Mays.  Think there is any way we can get them both?  Berry is the Ed Reed-like ball hawk and Mays is the Ronnie Lott-esque punisher. 

No matter where you look on our team, we cannot afford to miss this year.  I laid out some defensive choices because I feel that we really missed the opportunity in 2009 to add missing pieces to the puzzle on defense.  The offense needs to add at the right side of the line, a running back, and some sort of playmaking receiver/tight end.

When the dollars have landed, the contracts have been signed, and the new jerseys are fitted with their names, I hope the Browns can add some can’t-miss impact players to this team, instead of the league dropouts that have been through this town since 1999.