A Closer Look At The Sad Fate Of The Browns’ Eight First Round Picks Since 2011

Getty Image

When the Cleveland Browns traded linebacker and former No. 6-overall pick Barkevious Mingo to the New England Patriots for a 5th-round pick in next year’s draft, it seemed like just another example of the futility of the Browns’ front office when it comes to first-round picks. Sure, everybody knows the Browns haven’t been one of the better run franchises of the NFL since, well, forever.

But while the year-to-year results never seem to change, it can be even more shocking to see their failures collected in one place. So let’s do just that!

Woof. That ain’t exactly a murderer’s row there, guys. Note the math, too: that’s eight picks in five years! Can you imagine giving someone like the Patriots, or the Steelers, or the Seahawks eight first round picks in five years? They’d be more stocked than the pond behind your grandparents’ retirement home! What the hell happened, Cleveland? Let’s find out.

2011, DL Phil Taylor

The big defensive lineman was drafted with the 21st pick in the 2011 draft, but that would be selling that story short. The Browns actually had the 6th pick in the 2011 draft, but traded down to 27 with Atlanta so the Falcons could snag Julio Jones. Cleveland then traded UP to get Taylor at 21, but the former Baylor lineman was only able to play a complete season his rookie year. Multiple knee injuries saw him get released before last season though he was signed this past February by the Broncos.

2012, RB Trent Richardson

Remember this guy?

Four years later, it’s hard to believe he’s turned out to be a bust, but that’s exactly what Cleveland got after trading up for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 draft. After an honestly not-that-bad rookie season that saw him score nine touchdowns (tying Jim Brown’s franchise rookie record), he played two games in 2013 before the Browns traded him for a first-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts. He hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire since, but at only 26 years of age, it’s possible we haven’t seen the last of him. As for Cleveland, they actually showed a tiny bit of savvy by getting a first-round pick back for him, so good work, Browns! You’re learning!

2012, QB Brandon Weeden

Unfortunately, they weren’t that smart in 2012, because Weeden was drafted with the 22nd overall pick that they’d gotten from the Falcons the previous year in the Julio Jones trade. One of many recent Browns QB hopes, the Oklahoma State old-timer (28 years old as of draft day) flamed out after two terrible seasons and Cleveland released him after the 2014 season. He’s now somewhere below No. 1 on the Texans QB depth chart.

2013, LB Barkevious Mingo

The LSU stand-out christened with an all-time Name of the Year nominee was the sixth pick in 2013, but after two lackluster seasons he was put on the bench last season. With a decision looming this past spring the Browns declined to pick up his 5th year option and the writing was on the wall. Again, good for Cleveland at least getting something for Mingo, as the Pats were willing to give up a fifth-round pick for the athletic linebacker in hopes that Belichick can work his magic and find the former diamond among the rough.

2014, CB Justin Gilbert

Here’s the good news, Browns fans: we’re now getting close enough in years to the present day that anyone you’ve drafted from here on out is probably still young enough to have a shot at turning it around! Gilbert is no exception, as the former eighth overall pick out of Oklahoma State (again with the Cowboys) has failed to adapt to the next-level world of the NFL. But again, he’s only 24, there’s still time. Even better, Cleveland cleaned house in the front office this past offseason, so Gilbert has something of a clean slate with management. Here’s hoping he can start to act like a professional on and off the field and turn into a winner for the Browns.

2014, QB Johnny Manziel

Getty Image

Oh, did I say anyone the Browns have drafted in the past two years might still be salvageable? Whoops, forgot Ol’ Johnny Football here. The 2012 Heisman winner (as a freshman!) was drafted with the 22nd pick in the 2014 draft in the hopes that he might finally be the Browns’ QB savior to lead them from the wilderness. Brian Hoyer may have started the 2014 season as QB1, but Manziel finally got a chance late in the year. He didn’t play particularly well, however, and was unable to earn the starting job to open the 2015 season either. Unfortunately for the Browns, his physical ability was the least of his issues. After several off-field incidents, the Browns finally decided to cut their losses early and release him. Continued drug and domestic violence issues have led to him being a pariah around the league, and right now it’s hard to see a way back into the NFL for the former Heisman winner.

2015, DL Danny Shelton

Picked 12th overall by the Browns in the 2015 draft, the Washington Husky nose tackle was hoped to be the start of a stout defensive line that the Browns could build around. He played all 16 games of his rookie year and got 36 tackles, so hey, chin up, Cleveland. This guy might still pay off.

2015, OL Cam Erving

Picked 19th overall, the Florida State offensive lineman has recently moved to playing center for the Browns after the departure of Alex Mack this past spring. With the addition of RG3, Erving and the Browns are clearly way too early in their relationship to say he’s a bust. In fact, if he can make the full switch to center and become even an average center, the Browns might have found a way to seamlessly transition from past to future in a very key position.

But we get it, Cleveland, it’s hard to get excited about a nose tackle and a center when it comes to star draft picks. You want to see your first round picks dazzle around the field, you want to buy their jerseys — but just remember, those dazzling plays can just as easily turn into dumb interceptions and free jerseys.

So maybe it’s best to just take a deep breath, have some patience, and hope that Shelton and Erving are the sign of smarter picks to come.

×