5. Clay Matthews (1978, Pick No. 12)
Clay Matthews was one of two first-round selections made by the Browns in the 1978 NFL Draft, along with Hall-of-Famer Ozzie Newsome, making that arguably the best first round in franchise history.
Matthews played 16 seasons in Cleveland and still holds the franchise record for career sacks with 62.
Matthews played in four Pro Bowls and made 278 starts in a career that started with Brian Sipe and the Kardiac Kids, continued through the glory years of the Bernie Kosar playoff years, and closed out during the Bill Belichick era.
We’re even willing to overlook that lateral in Houston.
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