Countdown to 2020: Best Cleveland Browns player to wear No. 94
The Cleveland Browns have a rich and illustrious history. With only 94 days until the Browns season opener, we look at the best Browns player to ever wear number 94.
The countdown to the 2020 NFL season is upon us. With 94 days remaining until the Browns season opener, we continue the countdown by celebrating the best Cleveland Browns player to ever wear number 94 — Gerard Warren.
Gerard Warren was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the third overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft out of the University of Florida. Warren was the first defensive player selected that year and was drafted before Hall of Famers: LaDanian Tomlinson, Steve Hutchinson, and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees.
Warren was the first draft pick of the Butch Davis era in Cleveland. In his rookie year with the Browns, Warren finished third in both sacks with five and tackles for loss with 10. His rookie year was not without controversy, as Warren received a fine for a late vicious hit on Jacksonville Jaguar quarterback Mark Brunell and was also arrested on an unlicensed firearm charge later that season.
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During his sophomore campaign, Warren was a key defensive contributor to the last Browns team to reach the playoffs. Though Warren’s numbers were down in 2002 the defensive line was a more balanced unit and was one of the team’s strong points.
The following season, the Browns made a change at defensive coordinator and hired Dave Campo.
The defensive alignment did not change, but Warren’s usage did. The coach leaned on Warren to be the leader of the defensive front, but again Warren put up similar numbers as he did in previous seasons. Warren once again finished third on the team in both sacks and tackles for loss.
Warren only played one additional season in Cleveland before being traded to the Denver Broncos following the 2004 season. Although Warren never fully realized his full potential or lived up to the draft pick that the Browns spent on him, he is still the best Browns player ever to wear the number 94.
Warren’s career numbers as a member of the Cleveland Browns (60 games): 16.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, 152 combined tackles, with 27 tackles for loss.
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Gerard Warren ended up playing 11 seasons in the NFL before calling it a career after the 2011 season.