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10 Superstars the Cleveland Browns could have drafted since 1999

By Eddie McDonald

Bills quarterback Josh Allen heads off the field after a 42-36 overtire loss to the Chiefs knocked them out of the playoffs.Ag3i5955
Bills quarterback Josh Allen heads off the field after a 42-36 overtire loss to the Chiefs knocked them out of the playoffs.Ag3i5955 /
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Cleveland Browns
Jan 9, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) reacts after sacking Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (2) during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Superstar Player the Cleveland Browns Could Have Drafted in 2017

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. T.J.Watt. player. 55. EDGE/Linebacker. Wisconsin. 30

There was no disputing who should have gone No. 1 overall to the Browns in 2017 as they made the smart choice in drafting Myles Garrett. Now, what if I told you that the team had a chance to pair him up with another out-of-this-world player in T.J. Watt?

Could you imagine the disruptive force that would be if Garrett and Watt shared the same defensive line instead of the same division? That would be pure hell for opposing quarterbacks and sadly, the only way we can ever see that is on Madden, or on select fantasy rosters (if your league uses defensive players). This duo is considered the two best EDGE rushers in the NFL and you can make a legitimate case for either player.

So, who did the Browns draft ahead of Watt? That would be tight end, David Njoku. Listen, I love the Chief and hope he has a dominant 2022 and beyond after signing a contract extension earlier in the offseason, but Watt was right there. Now, we didn’t know Watt would turn into who he has, but that’s how hindsight works.

Watt has been tremendous since coming into the league and seemingly gets better every single year. He was the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year after he tied Hall of Famer Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record with 22.5. He has been an All-Pro in all but his rookie campaign, three times on the First-Team and one on the Second-Team.

He has been an absolute terror to opposing quarterbacks, especially Baker Mayfield, who has been sacked 11.5 times by Watt. That is 11.5 out of the 14.5 career sacks he has against the Browns. He has 72 total in his career and continues to set the bar to the highest level.

To add to his sack totals, Watt has 294 tackles (216 solo and 80 for a loss) with 150 (!) quarterback hits, 22 (!) forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, 32 passes defensed, and four interceptions.

The pick of Njoku hasn’t been bad, but in hindsight, taking him over Watt is a major miss, especially when Myles Garrett was taken at the top of the draft.

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