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Cleveland Browns Draft Passes, the Never-ending List

By Greg Newland

CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 22: Derwin James #33 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts to a broken pass play during the second half of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at StubHub Center on December 22, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 22: Derwin James #33 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts to a broken pass play during the second half of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at StubHub Center on December 22, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 17: Defensive tackle Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams stops running back David Montgomery #32 of the Chicago Bears at the line of scrimmage age in the first half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 17, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 17: Defensive tackle Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams stops running back David Montgomery #32 of the Chicago Bears at the line of scrimmage age in the first half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 17, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

2014 – Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh

In case you’ve lost track, we are now up to four mistakes in a row as the Browns selected defensive back Justin Gilbert with the 8th pick in 2014. Gilbert was in Cleveland for 2 seasons and was only able to start in three games. Gilbert was eventually traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round pick and was waived after one season of work in Pittsburgh.

Can you think of many players that have been a pro-bowler each of their first six seasons? Or voted all-pro five of the first six seasons?  Aaron Donald is that guy.  The defensive tackle is a dominant run-stopper and requires a double team every single play.  Let’s not forget the 20.5 sacks he achieved in 2018 as well.  Donald is a for sure Hall of Famer, drafted just five spots behind arguably one of the Browns’ worst draft picks in team history.

2015 – Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford & Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut

This is getting embarrassing now. Mistake No. 5 and six came just one year later in 2015 with Danny Shelton taken at pick 12 from Washington, and Cameron Erving taken at pick 19 from Florida State. Shelton started in 13-plus games for three straight years, but eventually underperformed and shipped out for a third-rounder in return. It’s hard to call Shelton a bust, but he certainly didn’t live up to expectations.

Erving played about every position for the Browns on the offensive line but seemed to give up pressure from everywhere. Erving was eventually traded to the Kansas City Chiefs for a fifth-round pick after two seasons.

While the Browns searched for offensive line help, they could have had Andrus Peat from Stanford. Peat has made the pro-bowl the last two years and has protected the blind side for Drew Brees in a pass-heavy offense for five years.

After the failure with Justin Gilbert the year before, Byron Jones should have been on the radar.  Instead, the star corner ended up with the cowboys where he has started every game four of the last five years. Jones has performed at a very high level and looks to get paid in the 2020 free agency market.

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