Dawg Pound Daily
FanSided

The Worst of the Worst: Biggest Cleveland Browns draft-busts since 1999

By Greg Newland

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 12: Defensive lineman Courtney Brown #92 of the Cleveland Browns pursues the play against the Oakland Raiders during a game at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 12, 2003 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Raiders 13-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Courtney Brown
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 12: Defensive lineman Courtney Brown #92 of the Cleveland Browns pursues the play against the Oakland Raiders during a game at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 12, 2003 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Raiders 13-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Courtney Brown /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 20: Defensive lineman Frank Clark #55 of the Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner #54 of the Seattle Seahawks hit quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of play at CenturyLink Field on December 20, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won the game 30-13. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 20: Defensive lineman Frank Clark #55 of the Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner #54 of the Seattle Seahawks hit quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of play at CenturyLink Field on December 20, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won the game 30-13. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

Biggest busts in Cleveland Browns history: 3. Johnny Manziel

Johnny not so Football as I like to call him, can’t be a shocker to anyone to make the list.  Take your pick on which was a less attractive feature of Johnny Manziel, the antics off the field or the poor performance on the field.

I’m not sure who is more to blame in this situation, the player or the scouts that called him an NFL quarterback after one tremendous collegiate win against Alabama…at home. Manziel started eight games in two seasons with the Browns where he started in 8 total games with 7 TD’s, 7 interceptions and a 2-6 record.

More from Browns All-Time Lists

Manziel bounced around the Canadian Football League but never could find professional success.  I’m sure you haven’t forgotten my teaser from part 1, who was drafted with the pick acquired from the Colts in the Trent Richardson deal…Ding ding ding, Manziel is the winner.

Biggest busts in Cleveland Browns history: 2. Justin Gilbert

As you’ll quickly notice from the two-part list, 2012-2015 has 5 players in the top 15, and an honorable mention.  After a lustrous college career at Oklahoma State, Justin Gilbert was considered one of the top corners in the 2014 draft.  Things started slow for Gilbert as he was limited by injury and was forced to miss two games.

After getting healthy, Gilbert couldn’t get on the field over K’Waun Williams.  In 2 seasons with the Browns, Gilbert only started 3 games and 2 of them were because of an injury.  Right before the start of year 3 in Cleveland, the Browns traded him within the division to the Steelers, where Gilbert would have a small role on special teams.  After being released by the Steelers in 2017, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced Gilbert was suspended one year for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.  The real question may be who is the bigger Oklahoma State bust?  Gilbert, Weeden or Justin Blackmon.

Home/Browns All-Time Lists