May 9, 2014; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns first round draft picks Justin Gilbert (Oklahoma State) and Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) are introduced to the media with head coach Mike Pettine (left) and general Manager Ray Farmer (left) at the Cleveland Browns Headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The 2015 NFL Draft is coming closer and closer. Only two days from now, we will witness how 32 NFL franchises, including the Cleveland Browns, try everything to build the best possible team for next season. While some will do exactly that, there will be others that will not be as successful.
The name “Factory of Sadness” did not come up randomly. There has been a long history of sadness for members and fans of the post-1999 Cleveland Browns. We are all hoping that after the “new” logo and new uniforms, management can also turn it around in the draft. With two first round picks, the tools are certainly there.
Until then, let’s take another look at former first round picks. After the selections from 1999 to 2007 (click here), we have the picks from 2008 to 2014 for you.
Next: 2008: No pick
2008: No pick
Oct 20, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Cleveland Browns helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns’ first round selection in 2008 was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for the 2007 draft pick that turned out to be quarterback Brady Quinn. Both picks were 22nd overall in the respective drafts.
Next: 2009: C Alex Mack
2009: C Alex Mack (21st overall)
Sep 29, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack (55) runs onto the field before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns’ first round pick in 2009 was center Alex Mack from the University of California. He is still an active player for the Browns and is going into his seventh season in Cleveland.
Mack had started every game since his rookie-season in 2009, before breaking his fibula in game six of the 2015 season. In 2009, the 315-pound center was selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team. Furthermore, Mack was named to the Pro Bowl roster for the first time in 2010, as an injury replacement for New York Jet Nick Mangold. The only time that he was voted to a Pro Bowl selection was in the 2013 season.
Next: 2010: CB Joe Haden
2010: CB Joe Haden (7th overall)
Dec 28, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) looks on during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Joseph Walter Haden III was the Browns first round selection in 2001. The cornerback was drafted out of the University of Florida and played five seasons with the Browns so far. He is still a member of the team.
Haden started his season as the Browns’ nickelback, but became a starter in Week 11, when Eric Wright got injured. Since then, he was one of the more consistent players for the Browns. In 72 career games, Haden has recorded 16 interceptions, 87 defended passes, and 244 tackles. He was the first Browns player since 1968 that intercepted a pass in four consecutive games. Since his rookie season in 2010, Haden only missed seven games.
Next: 2011: DT Phil Taylor
2011: DT Phil Taylor (21st overall)
The Cleveland Browns’ first round pick in the 2011 draft was defensive tackle Phillip Eugene Taylor. He played college football at Penn State University and Baylor University and is still with the Browns.
In the 2011 season, Taylor made the PFWA All-Rookie Team and was widely considered the best rookie at his position. He started every game for the Browns and recorded 59 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble. Unfortunately, the 2012 campaign was cut short for him, as he tore a muscle lifting weights. He only appeared in eight games that season. Taylor was able to come back and play 15 games in 2013. However, he was plagued by injury in 2014 and his season was cut short by a knee injury.
Next: 2012: RB Trent Richardson
2012: RB Trent Richardson (3rd overall)
Aug 15, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson (33) during a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns’ first-round pick in 2012 was running back Trenton Jamond Richardson. He spent his college football career at the University of Alabama and went on to play for the Browns for only one full season.
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Fans, the Browns, and other teams had high expectations in Richardson, as he was regarded the top-prospect at his position prior to the draft. The Browns traded up to the third overall position to select him as the highest-picked running back since Reggie Bush in 2006. Richardson had a good start into the season, getting Rookie of the Week honors in Week 2. In 15 games as a rookie, he amassed 950 yards and 11 touchdowns on 267 carries.
Although his rookie season was that good, Richardson got traded to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3 of the 2013 season for a 2014 first round draft pick. That pick got traded again on draft day and eventually turned out to be the 22nd selection in 2014.
Next: 2012: QB Brandon Weeden
2012: QB Brandon Weeden (22nd overall)
Dec 1, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) throws a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Jaguars beat the Browns 32-28. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
After Brady Quinn did not pan out for the Browns, they took a chance at quarterback Brandon Weeden in 2012. He played college football at Oklahoma State University and spent two seasons with the Browns.
In his rookie season, Weeden started in 15 games with a 5-10 record. He threw for a Browns rookie-record 3,385 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions in that time. The following season, Weeden got injured in Week 2. He was able to return shortly after, but Brian Hoyer got three straight starts over Weeden. Only when Hoyer went down in Week 5, Weeden reclaimed his position. However, he was not officially named the starter for the future. He performed poorly in Week 7 and 8 and was benched again in Week 9.
After only five starts and eight games overall in the 2013 season, the Browns released Weeden. He went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys.
Next: 2013: LB Barkevious Mingo
2013: LB Barkevious Mingo (6th overall)
Dec 7, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo (51) sacks Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Colts beat the Browns 25-24. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Barkevious Levon Mingo was the Cleveland Browns’ sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft. He was drafted out of Louisiana State University and is an active player for the Browns.
Mingo appeared in 15 games in each of his first two seasons. However, he only started three of them in his rookie season, and 11 in the last campaign. He finished both seasons with similar stats. In his rookie season, Mingo recorded 42 combined tackles and five sacks. The year after, he had 42 combined tackles along with two sacks.
Next: 2014: CB Justin Gilbert
2014: CB Justin Gilbert (8th overall)
Oct 26, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Andre Holmes (18) makes a reception against Cleveland Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert (21) during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Gilbert was one of the Browns’ first round picks in 2014. He was drafted out of Oklahoma State University and is a current Cleveland Brown.
Gipson appeared in 14 games in his rookie season, starting only two of them. In those games, the 6-foot, 100-pound cornerback had one interception, eight defended passes, and 25 tackles.
Next: 2014: QB Johnny Manziel
2014: QB Johnny Manziel (22nd overall)
Nov 30, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills won 26-10. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns’ 2014 22nd overall selection was quarterback Johnathan Paul Manziel. He played college football at Texas A&M and is a current Browns player.
Manziel was Brian Hoyer’s backup to start his rookie season. In his first appearance, against the New Orleans Saints, he did two hand-offs and threw an incomplete pass. His second game was over two months later against the Buffalo Bills, where he made five completions for 63 yards on eight attempts. He got his first touchdown on a 10-yard rush in the same game. Manziel had to wait for his first start until Week 15. The game was a huge disappointment, as Manziel recorded ten pass completions on 18 attempts, threw two interceptions, and got sacked three times. After that, Manziel started in one more game that was similarly disappointing. He was ruled out for the last game with an injury.
Several sources from within the organization called Manziel, who was named “Johnny Football” at Texas A&M, a bust or even a joke. He went into rehab for the 2015 offseason, but is expected to gain a roster spot for the 2016 campaign nonetheless.
What memories do you have of these draft picks? At the time, did you think they were the right picks?