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Top 5 Cleveland Browns rookie seasons all-time

By Randy Gurzi

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 27: Linebacker Rich Milot #57 of the Washington Redskins pursues running back Kevin Mack #34 of the Cleveland Browns during a game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on October 27, 1985 in Cleveland, Ohio. Washington defeated Cleveland 14-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 27: Linebacker Rich Milot #57 of the Washington Redskins pursues running back Kevin Mack #34 of the Cleveland Browns during a game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on October 27, 1985 in Cleveland, Ohio. Washington defeated Cleveland 14-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 20, 1964: (L to R) Center John Morrow #56 and wide receiver Paul Warfield #42 of the Cleveland Browns watch the action from the sidelines during a game on September 20, 1964 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. 64-71394 (Photo by Herman Seid Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

4. Paul Warfield, 1964

It’s great when a player can star at Ohio State University and then become a force for the Cleveland Browns. That was exactly what happened in 1964 when the Browns added Paul Warfield at No. 11 overall.

The former Buckeyes star came into the NFL and it wasn’t clear at first where he would play. At OSU, the former track star was able to excel both as a running back and defensive back. Once with the Browns, he was tried out as a receiver as well as a defensive back but in the end, head coach Blanton Collier liked him as a receiver and made the permanent move.

Warfield rewarded Collier with a Pro Bowl campaign. In 14 games — all of which Warfield started — he had 52 receptions for 920 yards and nine touchdowns. That not only landed him in the Pro Bowl but was also good enough for Warfield to be named to the All-NFL First-Team. His reception numbers were also all rookie records at the time as well, showing how well rounded he was out of the gate.

Sadly, Warfield was later traded to the Miami Dolphins and while he was fortunate enough to win the Super Bowl with their perfect 1972 team, the Browns missed out on some of his prime NFL seasons. He did return in 1976 and played his final two seasons in Cleveland and remains one of the more popular players of all-time for the Browns.

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