Cleveland Browns: Top 20 All-Time first-round draft picks
By Randy Gurzi
JoeThomas. Scouting Report. LT, Wisconsin. 2007 (No. 3). 2. player. 809. Pick Analysis
Cleveland Browns top first-round draft picks All-Time No. 2: Joe Thomas, LT, Wisconsin
The list of accolades for Joe Thomas is a long one. The No. 3 overall pick in 2007 out of Wisconsin saw just one winning season in his entire career, but that never stopped him from giving his all to the Browns — a team he was fiercely loyal to.
Thomas was a 10-time Pro Bowl player who made the all-star team every season except for his final one that was cut short due to a triceps injury. That injury cost him the remainder of his final year in the NFL and ended his incredible streak of 10,363 consecutive snaps.
A true iron man, Thomas was a First-Team All-Pro seven times and twice made the Second-Team. He was often considered the best left tackle in the game, which had his name continually in the rumor mill as a potential trade target.
With Cleveland struggling to win year after year, Thomas was always seen as a piece they could move for some great draft stock. The talks never went anywhere as he would always profess his love for his home and wanted to be there when the team finally turned the corner.
That never happened during his playing days, but Thomas seems to be fully engulfed in the Browns. He may no longer be their best player, but he’s going to be one of their biggest fans.