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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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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 15: Running back Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns rushes the football against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Browns 38-24. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 15: Running back Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns rushes the football against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Browns 38-24. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

1. Nick Chubb, Running Back (2018)

Topping the list as the best second-round pick by the Cleveland Browns since 1999 is running back Nick Chubb, who went from someone hardly used on offense by former coach Hue Jackson, to quickly becoming one of the best running backs in the league. This all happened in less than two seasons of being a professional athlete, too.

Chubb was drafted with the 35th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. In perhaps one of the deepest running back classes in some time, Chubb was overlooked by some because of injury concerns. Those concerns weren’t worth much merit, however, as Chubb only missed eight games in his collegiate career, the majority of those coming in his sophomore season following a knee injury halfway through the season.

Ending his career at Georgia with nearly 4,800 yards and 44 rushing touchdowns, Chubb was expected to be a force right out of the gate for the Browns. However, then-head coach Hue Jackson opted to use Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson as his primary ball-carriers in the early part of the season. Chubb didn’t let that hold him back, however, as he made the most of every opportunity he got. In limited game action, he showed his explosive burst and why teams were wrong to pass on him.

His breakout game came against the Oakland Raiders, where Chubb had touchdown runs of 63 yards and 41 yards, becoming just the fourth player in NFL history to get 100 rushing yards on less than three carries, according to NFL.com. By mid-October, the Browns decided to go with Nick Chubb as their full-time starter, and he never looked back, finishing 2018 with 996 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.

He carried that momentum into the 2019 season. Chubb led the league for most of the season in rushing yards, until ultimately losing the NFL rushing title to Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry by just 46 yards.

Next. 5 Best Cleveland Browns first round draft picks since 1999. dark

Browns fans look forward to having Chubb around a few more seasons, and hopefully a lot longer, as the running back has already proven to be one of the best draft picks the team has made in not just the second round, but any round, since their return to the NFL in the 1999 season.

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