The Worst of the Worst: Biggest Cleveland Browns draft-busts since 1999
By Greg Newland
The Cleveland Browns have become infamous for terrible draft picks, check out a few of the most questionable picks as we review the worst of the worst since 1999.
Leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft, let’s take a moment to remember some of the worst picks by the Cleveland Browns since 1999. Part 1, of a 2-part series, is a shortlist of many poor decisions by the Browns over 20 years with stats to back. As expected, most of the more memorable flops end up being picks from the early few rounds.
Honorable Mention – Barkevious Mingo
Let’s begin with an honorable mention, Barkevious Mingo who has ended up with a nice NFL career playing predominantly special teams and as a specialty edge pass rusher. Unfortunately, that is not what the Browns were planning for him when they drafted him at #6. Mingo was undersized and built for a 3-4 system, never seemed to fit Ray Horton’s scheme as a rookie. Add Mingo to list of first-rounders we sent to the New England Patriots for a late-round pick in return.
Biggest busts in Cleveland Browns history: 15. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
It is difficult to throw a 7th round pick in as a flop draft pick, as you often can’t expect anything. However, clearly the Browns didn’t do their due diligence on Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who never saw the field for an NFL team. An extensive knee injury late in his career at Oregon was known to many as career-ending, but not to the Browns.
Biggest busts in Cleveland Browns history: 14. Greg Little
Not to drag Braylon Edwards into this conversation as he was one of the Browns better picks, but he was known for dropping a pass or two. Greg Little was similar, he would run a fade, go over a corner for a pass and get two feet down for a TD. Then the next series he would run a 10-yard stop route on 3rd & 12 and let the ball bounce off his face mask. Little was also one to let the media bother him, constantly defending himself and his play. 3 miserable years and 0 success came in Little’s time with the Browns. After Little’s stint in Cleveland, he would only see an NFL field 6 times as a member of the Bengals.