Arrested Development: A look at the 2001 Browns draft, 20 years later

2001 proved to be an explosive year for Cleveland Browns draft picks. Just not necessarily on the field. With the NFL Draft less than a week away, let’s rewind 20 years and look back at the first draft class of then new head coach and general manager Butch Davis.

For a franchise that, until recently, drafted about as well as an IC Light beer tastes, the 2001 draft was rough. The draftees combined for more arrests (2) than Pro Bowls (0).

Having been hired three months earlier after a successful run as the Head Coach at the University of Miami, Davis had a Florida flavor to his initial draft class. Four of the eight players selected played their college ball in the state of Florida. Running Back James Jackson, a third-round pick, was coached by Davis at Miami.

The first pick of the Davis-era was defensive tackle Gerard Warren. A second-team All-American, Warren was recruited to Miami by Davis before choosing to enroll at the University of Florida. The former Gator went to Cleveland with the third overall pick.

He was counted on to provide a pass-rush on the interior of the defensive line. Warren wound up recording just 16.5 sacks over four seasons in orange and brown. His most noteworthy moment as a Brown came when he was arrested during the season in what is widely considered the ugliest place on earth-Pittsburgh, for possession of an illegal firearm.

After four seasons, the supposed crown jewel of the Browns’ 2001 draft was traded to Denver for a fourth-round pick. Though Warren was Cleveland’s first pick, he was the second of the team’s draftees to be arrested (more on that later).

Receiver Quincy Morgan was selected in the second round and proved to be one of the few bright spots in an otherwise cloudy draft class. In three-plus seasons with the Browns, Morgan accounted for 17 touchdown receptions. Most notable was his game-winning catch of a Hail Mary as time expired to beat Jacksonville during his second season.

Round three featured Davis protégé James Jackson. The running back carved out an average career, with five total touchdowns and just over 1,000 career yards. He was out of the league by 2006. Davis would’ve been wise to wait a year to draft a ball carrier from Miami. Impactful former Hurricanes Clinton Portis and Najeh Davenport were both selected in the 2002 draft.

The unquestioned best selection of this draft class was fourth-round Defensive Back Anthony Henry. The University of South Florida Hall of Famer made an immediate impact with Cleveland. Despite starting just two games as a rookie, he tied for the NFL lead with 10 interceptions. Henry played four seasons with the Browns amassing 17 picks and a team-record 97-yard interception return touchdown.

Fifth-round selections generally fall along the lines of boom or bust. The Browns’ selection was no different – Jeremiah Pharms was certainly a bust. Or better yet, busted. A Linebacker from the University of Washington, Pharms was arrested for his role in a robbery that occurred the previous fall. He was released from the Browns before signing his rookie contract. Pharms was sentenced to more than three years in prison. Since his 2005 release, he’s been arrested at least two more times.

Michael Jameson was Cleveland’s sixth-round pick. A Defensive Back, Jameson missed his entire rookie year following a preseason injury. He bounced back in year two and finished his career playing in 42 games (all with the Browns). Primarily a backup, Jameson finished his career with one interception and one sack. He was suspended four games in 2005 for substance abuse. Shortly after returning from suspension, his contract was terminated by the team.

Cleveland finished up the 2001 draft with two seventh-round selections: Offensive lineman Paul Zukauskas and another player coached by Davis at Miami, Receiver Andre King. Zukauskas spent his entire four-year career with the Browns, starting 18 games over that span, primarily as a backup.

King also spent his entire career in orange and brown (42 games, 3 starts). Fittingly, for this draft class, he scored as many touchdowns as I did (zero).

Two decades removed from this draft debacle, Browns fans hope next week’s 2021 draft class will yield a better return than Butch Davis’ first group of misfit draftees.