5 Best Cleveland Browns second-round picks since 1999
2. Jabaal Sheard, EDGE (2011)
Jabaal Sheard was the 37th overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2011 NFL Draft. While he only played out his rookie contract with the Browns, Sheard still performed well enough to make it on this list as the second-best second-round draft pick for the organization since their return to the league in 1999.
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Sheard was somewhat overshadowed by his fellow defensive linemen in college, at least early on. As he started to grow into his role more and become a force for the Pitt Panthers, he ran into some off-field trouble that resulted in him being banned from the team in 2010. Following his restoration to the team, Sheard was again a force, tallying nine sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in his final college season.
Perhaps his off-field issues are what allowed him to slide to the Browns in the second round.
Whatever the case truly was, the Browns were not going to let him fall any further, and he rewarded them by becoming an immediate impact for the defense.
Sheard started all 16 games in 2011 and recorded eight and a half sacks, as well as five forced fumbles, with both those numbers leading the team. He followed that up with seven sacks the next season.
Sheard finished his Cleveland Browns tenure 23 sacks and 27 tackles for loss. He continues to have a good career and even won a Super Bowl title with the New England Patriots. Had he continued to wear an orange and brown uniform, however, fans can only imagine how much of an impact he would have on a defensive line in need of consistent playmakers.