Cleveland Browns: 10 biggest ‘what ifs?’ in the NFL Draft since 1999

4. What if the Cleveland Browns didn’t accept the Falcons draft haul?

In 2011, the Atlanta Falcons traded a first, second, and fourth-round pick along with a first and fourth-round pick in 2012 to the Browns for the sixth-overall pick. With that pick, they drafted Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones.

This seems like quite the reach for a wideout, but Jones has proved to be worth it all. He has been a seven-time Pro Bowler, a two-time First-Team All-Pro, and led the league in receiving yards twice. He was a big factor in the Falcons Super Bowl run.

So what did the Browns do with those picks? They went on to draft defensive lineman Phil Taylor, wide receiver Greg Little, fullback Owen Marecic, quarterback Brandon Weeden and used a pick in the deal for Richardson. None of those players were still in the league by 2017.

Even if the Browns stayed at six and didn’t take Jones, they could have drafted linebacker Aldon Smith, offensive tackle Tyron Smith, or defensive end J.J. Watt, who they tried to sign in free agency earlier this season.

Any one of those players or Jones would’ve been better than the five picks Cleveland essentially wasted.  Just imagine had the Browns drafted Jones and then got Josh Gordon a couple of years later. That duo could have made a quarterback, but that was not in the cards.