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5 Best Cleveland Browns second-round picks since 1999

By Matthew McFatridge

14 Nov 1999: Kevin Johnson #85 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates his touchdown during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Browns defeated the Steelers 16-15. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport
14 Nov 1999: Kevin Johnson #85 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates his touchdown during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Browns defeated the Steelers 16-15. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport /
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DENVER – SEPTEMBER 20: Running back Knowshon Moreno #27 of the Denver Broncos rushes between Brodney Pool #21 and D’Qwll Jackson #52 of the Cleveland Browns during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 20, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Browns 27-6. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER – SEPTEMBER 20: Running back Knowshon Moreno #27 of the Denver Broncos rushes between Brodney Pool #21 and D’Qwll Jackson #52 of the Cleveland Browns during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 20, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Browns 27-6. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

Since their return to the NFL in 1999, the Cleveland Browns have had their share of draft hits and draft misses. Here are their top five second round picks since returning to the league in 1999.

The second round of the NFL Draft is where you look to get high-quality players that can contribute for your football team for a long time. It’s essentially an expansion of the first round, where guys that didn’t test particularly well at the NFL combine but still show enough on their college tape to be taken at the top of the draft. While the Cleveland Browns have had their share of bad luck with draft picks over the years, they’ve actually found some quality players in the second round since 1999.

While this list breaks down the top five second-round picks since 1999, there were a few selections that didn’t quite make the cut. Sean Jones was the 59th overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft. Although he missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury, he appeared in every game his second season, primarily as a special team’s player.

In 2006, Jones started all 16 games at safety and notched 111 tackles, as well as five interceptions. He would only play two more seasons for the Browns but would finish his Cleveland career with 14 interceptions in 44 career defensive starts. Had he stayed with the Browns, he could very well be higher up on this list.

Another defensive player that just missed the cut is Brodney Pool, the 34th overall pick out of Oklahoma in the 2005 draft. Pool, much like Sean Jones in his first year, primarily played special teams, but what a force when he was on the field in his limited defensive role. Pool didn’t get to see full-time starting action until 2007 when he won the free safety job.

He was able to combine for 123 combined tackles in 2007 and 2008, as well as five interceptions. In 2009, his season was cut short by concussions, and he was not re-signed due to these injuries. Although these concussions ultimately cost Pool his career in the NFL, he still finds himself as one of the best second-round picks since the Browns return to the league in the 1999 season.

Now we take a look at the top five second-round picks since the Browns return as a franchise. From players that burst onto the scene in a hurry, to players who were steady producers in their time in the league, here are the top five.

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