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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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14 Nov 1999: Kevin Johnson #85 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates the touchdown during the 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 the touchdown during the 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 /

5. Kevin Johnson, Wide Receiver (1999)

Kevin Johnson was the first overall pick of the second round by the Cleveland Browns in the 1999 NFL Draft. After originally starting at Syracuse as a quarterback, Johnson lost the starting job to Donovan McNabb and switched to the wide receiver position. After his senior season, Johnson had shown he had enough talent to be a wide receiver at the next level, and Cleveland snagged him with their second-round pick.

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Johnson started off strong for the Browns, as he was an immediate force on the offense his rookie season. He led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns his rookie season, as well as giving the team their first win since their return that season on a Hail Mary as time expired against the New Orleans Saints.

After three more productive seasons with the Browns, Johnson was signed to a four-year contract extension following the 2002 season. Then, as a shock to everyone, Johnson was cut mid-season in 2003 by the team and then-head coach Butch Davis.

While the team was only 3-6 at the time, Kevin Johnson was still the leading receiver with 381 yards and two touchdowns. Davis stated that he had not been pleased with his production the past few seasons, and they felt it best to move on without him.

After being cut, Johnson was claimed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He went on to play for two more seasons until after the 2005 season. Whether it was the fact he was unable to get over the release by the Browns or something else that did not allow him to get back to the success he had with the Browns is not known.

Johnson finished his time with the Browns with 384 catches for 3,836 yards and 23 touchdowns. Had he been able to stick with the team a few more seasons, perhaps he would be higher up on this list. As it stands, however, Johnson is currently the fifth-best second-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns since their return to the NFL in 1999.

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