Cleveland Browns: 20 best draft day steals of all-time

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BRONX, NY – CIRCA 1958-59: Jim Brown #32 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball as Gene Hickerson #64, Jim Ray Smith #66 and Art Hunter #56 block against Jimmy Patton #20, Dick Modzelewski #77, Sam Huff #70, Harland Svare #84 and Rosie Grier #76 of the New York Giants pursue during a circa 1958-59 game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images) /

Baylor, 1954. Jim RaySmith. player. Scouting Report. OG. 8. 860. Pick Analysis

Cleveland Browns best NFL Draft steals of all time: 8. Jim Ray Smith

Back when he was at Baylor, Jim Ray Smith was known as a two-way tackle meaning he played on both the offensive and defensive line for the Bears. He was eventually drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 1954 NFL Draft.

That sounds much worse than it was as the NFL was much smaller then, and he was till the 64th overall pick. Still, that was late for the Browns to have landed a player who would become a star for them for seven seasons. Of course, this came after nearly a two-year break from the game as Smith first had to go serve in the U.S. Army.

Once he was back in the league, Smith made five Pro Bowls as an offensive guard for the Browns — all consecutively from 1958 through 1962. Those were also the only five seasons where he was a full-time starter in Cleveland.

Smith was set to retire after 1961 to work in his real estate business but Cleveland convinced him to come back for one more season. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 1963 which allowed him to play his final year in the NFL on his hometown team.

He was such a solid player that he can now be found in the Baylor Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame as well as the College Football Hall of Fame.

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