Opinion: Top 5 Cleveland Browns NFL Draft flops

Ever since they returned to the NFL in 1999, the Cleveland Browns have made plenty of questionable drafting decisions, and this past weekend in Green Bay, Wisconsin, another may have taken place with them drafting two quarterbacks, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, in a two-round span.

Maybe one of them will turn out to be something in the NFL, but that remains to be seen. Regardless, laughter likely abounds, so here are the top five Cleveland Browns draft mistakes that have made them the punching bag of the NFL since their return.

5. 28-year-old QB Brandon Weeden goes in the 2012 first round

In 2012, the Browns drafted running back Trent Richardson at No. 3 overall, who only spent one season in Cleveland, but he at least got them a first-round pick back when he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts. There’s no such luck with this pick, though.

Having acquired this pick from the Atlanta Falcons the year prior, the Browns took the Oklahoma State product despite his age. He wouldn’t last long in the league, but it wouldn’t be due to his age.

Weeden threw 23 touchdowns to 26 interceptions with a 5-15 record as a starter in two seasons with Cleveland. He would play for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans as a backup later on.

What especially hurts is that quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson and Nick Foles, who were all taken later than Weeden, went on to have more productive careers.

4. Browns trade 2008 first-rounder for QB Brady Quinn in 2007, who doesn’t work

The Browns made a rare great move by selecting six-time first-team All-Pro offensive tackle Joe Thomas third overall in 2007, but the good vibes end there. The player whom he protected during his first few seasons in the league did not pan out.

Cleveland traded their second-round pick and 2008 first-rounder to select Quinn, but he dealt with injuries and was often behind 2007 Pro Bowler Derek Anderson on the depth chart.

The Notre Dame product spent three seasons with the Browns, going 3-9 as a starter while throwing 10 touchdowns to nine interceptions. He was traded to the Denver Broncos after the 2009 season, where his career spiraled from there.

The Cowboys traded back up in 2007 to select edge rusher Anthony Spencer, who made the Pro Bowl in 2012, and selected running back Felix Jones in 2008 with the Browns’ pick.

Jones led the NFL in yards per attempt in 2009. For what the Browns got out of Quinn, it’s a big disappointment.

3. Browns give All-Pro Julio Jones to the Falcons for underwhelming players

The Browns had the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, which is considered one of the best of all time. They desperately needed a No. 1 wide receiver with the Alabama product right in their laps.

So what do the Browns do? Trade the pick to the Atlanta Falcons, who aggressively dealt their 2011 and 2012 first-round picks along with three other picks to select the 2009 national champion.

The Browns used these picks to select defensive tackle Phil Taylor, wide receiver Greg Little and running back Owen Marecic in 2011 and Weeden in 2012.

None of them lasted more than four actual playing seasons in the NFL and they combined for zero Pro Bowls.

But what about Jones?

Well, he was arguably the best receiver of the 2010s, leading the NFL in receiving yards twice, all while winning first-team AP All-Pro honors twice and helping lead the Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2016-17 season in his 13 seasons.

2. Browns pass up on Hall of Famers for short-lived DT

The 2001 NFL Draft is full of amazing players, like Drew Brees, Reggie Wayne and Justin Smith, who all could be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday. However, the Browns passed up on some actual electees that year.

With the third overall pick, the Browns took defensive tackle Gerard Warren out of Florida, who never lived up to that billing. He had 16.5 sacks and 27 tackles for loss in four seasons with Cleveland, but compare those numbers to those of Donald, for example. It’s not even close.

Warren played for the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots during the rest of his 11-year career, finishing with 36.5 sacks and 61 TFLs.

But who did Cleveland miss on? The list includes running back LaDanian Tomlinson, defensive lineman Richard Seymour and guard Steve Hutchinson, all Hall of Famers. Ouch.

1. Browns trade up TWICE in 2014 to select headcases who don’t stay long

Cornerback Justin Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel were the headliners of the Browns’ most embarrassing first round ever. They were often associated with off-field drama, and they only combined for five NFL seasons, four with the Browns.

The Browns moved up one spot to select Gilbert out of Oklahoma State at No. 8 overall, but he only started three games for them in two seasons.

Gilbert was often late to meetings and got into a road rage incident in 2015, which led him to be traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. To make matters worse, three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald was taken four picks later.

“Johnny Football”, whom the Browns moved up four spots to draft, was a partyer instead of someone who watched film, and it hurt him in a big way. When Manziel, the former Texas A&M Aggie, wasn’t drinking or partying during meetings, he had a 2-6 record in eight starts with a 7-7 TD/INT ratio in two seasons. He was let go in 2016 after a domestic violence allegation.

The Browns have had some bright spots, like the rest of the 2014 NFL Draft, but selections like these are why the Browns are the joke of the NFL.

Owen Klein is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ojk5092@psu.edu.