A history lesson: Cleveland Browns first draft picks

Since 1999, there have been several patterns that have been formed by the Cleveland Browns when drafting players that may leave clues for this draft

The Cleveland Browns hold the 44th pick in the second round of this year’s draft starting Thursday in Las Vegas. The first round is Thursday and then the second and third rounds are on Friday.

So, while the Browns may try to work their way back into the first round they may be content to begin at No. 44. The team hasn’t had a first-round pick since 2019 when they began that draft by picking cornerback Greedy Williams at No. 46.

Before that season, it was 2008 the last time the team didn’t have a first-round pick. In that draft, Cleveland drafted a linebacker named Beau Bell, out of UNLV in the fourth round.

That draft position happened because in the previous 2007 draft the Browns traded up into the first round to grab Brady Quinn, the star quarterback from Notre Dame that the Browns had visions of becoming their franchise quarterback. That didn’t work out as they had planned. Here are other nuggets of fun data on the Browns and their history of first picks in the draft since they came back as a franchise in 1999.

Cleveland Browns have drafted No. 1 overall: 4 times

QB Tim Couch was drafted No. 1 from Kentucky in 1999

DE Courtney Brown was drafted No. 1 from Penn State in 2000

DE Myles Garrett was drafted No. 1 from Texas A&M in 2017

QB Baker Mayfield was drafted No. 1 from Oklahoma in 2018

Have the Cleveland Browns drafted a defensive or offensive player first?

In 23 drafts so far the Browns have selected 12 defensive players and 11 offensive players first, so it’s a close race. This doesn’t help much in predicting who the Browns will draft first this year.

Where do the Cleveland Browns first picks typically come from?

Last year’s first-round pick cornerback Greg Newsome II was from Big Ten school Northwestern. There have been three other first picks by the Browns that were from Big Ten schools including tackle Joe Thomas out of Wisconsin in 2007, wide receiver Braylon Edwards from Michigan in 2005, and defensive end Courtney Brown from Penn State in 2000.

Cleveland likes players from the southern states. They’ve selected 14 players with their first picks from schools like Alabama, LSU, Florida, and Baylor.

Are the Cleveland Browns first picks still playing in the NFL?

All of Cleveland’s first picks are still playing going as far back as 2013, with the exception of 2014. Yes, in 2014, the Browns took cornerback Justin Gilbert from Oklahoma State and he ended up being a big dud. Even 2013 Browns pick, linebacker Barkevious Mingo was still playing in the league until he was cut last summer by the Atlanta Falcons.

Before that cornerback, Joe Haden, who was drafted by Cleveland in 2010 with their first pick, is still playing in the NFL, most recently with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The prior year pick center Alex Mack is still in the league as well as he plays for the San Fransico 49ers. None of the other players selected first by the Browns before 2009 are still playing.

So, when the Browns begin with pick No. 44 on Friday night in Las Vegas, I’ll take a guess that the player will be from a college in the south and be a defensive player. What do you think?