Countdown to 2020: Best Cleveland Browns player to wear No. 37

Who is the best player to wear No. 37 for the Cleveland Browns?

The countdown to the 2020 NFL season is upon us. With 37 days remaining until the Browns season opener, we continue the countdown by celebrating the best Cleveland Browns player to ever wear number 37: Anthony Henry.

Henry was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft out of the University of South Florida. Henry was a four-year starter for the newly formed collegiate program and was the second player ever drafted from USF. The first player to be drafted out of USF, Kenyatta Jones, was selected one pick ahead of Henry, and the third player, Bill Gramatica, was selected with the pick after Henry.

Henry began his collegiate career as a free safety and was not moved to cornerback until his senior season. He ended up leading the team in both interceptions and passes defended. In the end, Henry showed enough ball skills that the Browns viewed him as a draftable commodity.

Once arriving in Cleveland, Henry played up to his new level of competition. Although he would not be able to earn a spot as a starting cornerback with veterans Corey Fuller and Daylon McCutcheon returning, Henry carved a niche out for himself as the nickel corner in 2001. With the league shifting to more of a pass-first mentality, Henry put himself in a position to see valuable playing time.

Despite only starting two games in 2001, Henry turned in one of the best rookie seasons ever for a Browns defensive back. Henry’s 10 interceptions were good enough to tie him with Ronde Barber for the league lead. The rookie also put his name in the Browns’ record books with his 10 interceptions tying him with Thom Darden for the single-season interception record.

Henry also set a record for the longest interception return when he picked off a pass from Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback, Mark Brunell, and took it back 97 yards for a touchdown.

Henry would go on to play an additional three seasons in Cleveland and started in 37 games over that span. Although he would never equal the lofty interception number he put up as a rookie, he was solid against the run and proved he was a starting-caliber cornerback in the NFL.

In 2005, Henry chose to test free agency and signed a lucrative deal with the Dallas Cowboys. While he would go on to start 51 games as a Cowboy, his best seasons as a pro proved to be while he was in Cleveland.

He tallied 17 interceptions and 250 total tackles, with 210 of those tackles being of the solo variety, during his four-year career as a member of the Browns. While his stint in Cleveland was not lengthy, Henry is the best player to wear number 37 for the Browns.