Dawg Pound Daily
FanSided

Cleveland Browns draft: The 2017 picks we wish would have worked out better

By Randy Gurzi

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 15: Howard Wilson #6 of the Houston Cougars intercepts a pass against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the first half on October 15, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 15: Howard Wilson #6 of the Houston Cougars intercepts a pass against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the first half on October 15, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Cleveland Browns
HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 17: Cornerback Howard Wilson #6 of the Houston Cougars recovers a Louisville Cardinals fumble in the third quarter at TDECU Stadium on November 17, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Houston Cougars won 36 to 10. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) /

2. Howard Wilson, Cornerback

While playing for Houston, Howard Wilson proved to be a stellar cornerback and had plenty of eyes on him leading up to the 2017 NFL Draft. He garnered a lot of attention playing next to William Jackson, but then tore his knee up in 2015 which had some scouts concerned about him.

Wilson still had a solid career with the Cougars and played in 2016 after the knee injury. That year, he had 54 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and five interceptions. It was enough for the Browns to take a shot on him in the middle of the draft, making him a fourth-round pick.

Unfortunately, as many fans in Cleveland will remember, Wilson never got to make his debut with the team. He fractured his patella and had to have surgery which cost him his rookie season. As if spending that year on the injured reserve wasn’t enough, Wilson then had to have another surgery to repair his patella tendon the following year which ended with him on IR for 2018 as well.

He never made an appearance for the Browns and after two seasons on IR, Wilson was waived ahead of the 2019 season. He received a tryout from the Chicago Bears in 2020, but nothing ever came from that workout. Now entering the 2021 season, it seems as though Wilson will never get a chance to make an active roster which is really unfortunate.

Cleveland understood his injury risk when they took a chance on him in the fourth, but Wilson is still a player we all wish could have made it with the Browns.

Home/Browns Draft