Cleveland Browns: 20 best draft day steals of all-time
By Randy Gurzi
Pick Analysis. WR. 11. Scouting Report. North Texas, 1952. RayRenfro. player. 2390
Cleveland Browns best NFL Draft steals of all time: 11. Ray Renfro
In 1952, the Cleveland Browns were a stacked roster which allowed head coach Paul Brown to take a flier on Ray Renfro in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. The North Texas product was a superstar athlete but there was no real defined role for him on the field.
This led to some experimentation from Brown who lined him up as a running back and a punt returner. The results weren’t too impressive and his rookie seasons felt like a lost year. Then in 1953, Paul Brown found a home for the man who would earn the nickname “Rabbit.”
Renfro lined up as a wideout that season and had 39 receptions for 722 yards and four touchdowns. He added another 352 yards and four scores on 60 rushes but it was his 18.5 yards per catch that stood out as he made his first of three Pro Bowls that season.
His best campaign came in 1955 when he averaged more than 20 yards per catch — hauling in 29 passes for 608 yards and eight touchdowns. His speed continued throughout his career as he even had 638 yards on 31 receptions (20.6 yards per catch average) at the age of 33 in 1962.
For 12 years, Renfro was with the Browns and he won two NFL Championships with them (in 1954 and 1955). Once his career was over, he got into coaching and won a Super Bowl as the quarterback and receiver coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 1972.