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7 Best Cleveland Browns of the 21st Century

By Martin McConnell

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 3: Cornerback Joe Haden #23 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after catching and interception during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 3, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 3: Cornerback Joe Haden #23 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after catching and interception during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 3, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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3. Joe Haden

Joe Haden was the Browns’ first-round pick in 2010, and at least at the start, he made every bit of it count. Coming out of Florida at the age of 21, Haden had a special rookie year in Cleveland. Starting seven games and playing in all 16, Haden collected six interceptions as a rookie, along with 18 passes defensed, and a forced fumble. This production would continue later into his career.

Throughout his career with the Browns, Haden recorded 19 interceptions in 90 career games. He defensed over 100 passes during his time with the orange and brown, and had an average of 53 tackles per year. Along with two straight Pro Bowl appearances in 2013 and 2014, Haden was quite easily Cleveland’s best defender from 2010 to 2016.

Before the 2017 season began, then-general manager Sashi Brown decided it was time for the Browns and Haden, or more specifically Haden’s contract, to go their separate ways. Since being cut, Haden signed with his former arch rival Pittsburgh Steelers, and has appeared in 26 games. During that time, he’s intercepted three passes, including a massive late-game pick against the New England Patriots in 2018.

Joe Haden will always be one of the strangest cases for the Cleveland Browns. He did a lot of work for the community, and it seems that part of his heart is still in Cleveland. And yet, it’s unsure whether he has any real desire to come back to the Dawg Pound at the age of 30 now.

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