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Cleveland Browns draft: Top 3 players taken at pick No. 44 in NFL draft

By Greg Newland

Oct 17, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive back Grant Delpit (22) enters the field before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive back Grant Delpit (22) enters the field before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 06: Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears is hit by NaVorro Bowman #53 of the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 6, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defeated the Bears 26-20 in overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Best player at pick 44 no. 2 – Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

In a time when drafting a running back in the first round wasn’t crazy, Matt Forte was an absolute steal at pick 44 in the 2008 NFL Draft. Coming from Tulane, which is a very small school, the Chicago Bears weren’t positive his game would fully translate, but he ended up being a fantastic NFL player.

Forte had a 10-year career in the NFL with his first eight coming in Chicago, and then the final two in New York with the Jets. He had just under 10,000 career rushing yards to go along with, 4,672 receiving yards and 85 total touchdowns.

The receiving yards don’t seem crazy compared to today’s game, but Forte was one of the first true dual-threat guys in the league. Not only did he have the quickness and power in the backfield to get yards on the ground, but he also had fantastic hands and you couldn’t just leave a linebacker on him in coverage.

Likely his best attribute was his durability. In 10-years of playing, he appeared in 12 plus games every season.  Especially at the position he plays, that is a phenomenal stat.

With a loaded backfield and the strategy of the game changing, I would be shocked to see the Browns take a risk on a running back at pick No. 44 in 2022. Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, and D’Ernest Johnson are arguably the best running back trio in the league currently.

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