For the third year in a row — and hopefully the last for a long time — the Cleveland Browns enter the 2024 NFL Draft without a pick in Round 1. They traded back in 2022 and sent their second-round pick to the New York Jets in 2023 as part of the Elijah Moore trade, so they’ve also been without a pick in Round 2 for the past two seasons.
As of now, they're slated to pick at No. 54 overall. Given their lack of early selections over the past two years, it's been exciting to dig into the potential prospects they could draft. And if history is any indicator, the Browns could find a potential stud.
Here we look back at the history of the NFL Draft and highlight the top five players chosen at No. 54 all-time.
5. Darrin Smith, LB, Miami (Dallas Cowboys, 1993)
Taken out of Miami in 1993, Darrin Smith never developed into a superstar but he played in the NFL for 12 years and was a starter for the majority of his career.
Smith began with the Dallas Cowboys, Smith won two Super Bowls but wasn't re-signed in 1997. Dallas had a history of letting linebackers walk, and Dexter Coakley replaced Smith.
He went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles for one season, the Seattle Seahawks for two, and finally spent five years with the New Orleans Saints. In all, Smith had 782 tackles, 24 sacks, 11 interceptions, and four defensive touchdowns.
Not a bad career at all for Smith and even though they didn't keep him long-term, the team that originally selected him was happy with their results.
4. Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida (Cincinnati Bengals, 2010)
In 2009, Carlos Dunlap won the BCS National Championship Defensive MVP for the Florida Gators after recording four tackles and a half-sack in their win over Oklahoma. He then decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2010 NFL Draft.
Dunlap did have a red flag for a DUI arrest during his collegiate career — which led to a suspension in the SEC title game in 2009. That caused his stock to fall and the Cincinnati Bengals rolled the dice on a player with first-round talent at No. 54.
As a rookie, Dunlap burst on the scene with 9.5 tackles for the Bengals. He continued to be a constant presence for Cincinnati throughout 10 and a half years and had 115 starts in 155 appearances. Dunlap was traded during the 2020 campaign, ending his Cincy tenure with 472 tackles and 82.5 sacks.
He recorded 13.5 sacks for the Seahawks before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. At the age of 33, he played in all 17 games for the Chiefs and had 39 tackles and four sacks. Although quiet in the playoffs, he was still an integral part of their roster and was able to win a Super Bowl ring.
Dunlap wasn't signed anywhere in 2023 and while he hasn't officially retired, it’s a safe bet to assume he's done. If so, he proved to be well worth the selection at No. 54 following an impressive 13-year career.
3. Jessie Bates, S, Wake Forest (Cincinnati Bengals, 2018)
Another Cincinnati pick at No. 54 that turned out well came in 2018. That year, they took Wake Forest safety Jessie Bates III. Known for being a ball hawk for the Demon Deacons, Bates was also a capable punt returner.
In his redshirt sophomore season, Bates had nearly 18 yards per punt return and ran one back for a touchdown.
That proved to be his final collegiate season as well and Bates declared for the NFL Draft with just two years of playing experience. That lack of time on the field wasn't an issue, however.
As a rookie, Bates started all 16 games for the Bengals and had 111 tackles, seven pass defenses, and three picks. He put up triple-digit tackles in each of the next two seasons and had 479 along with 14 interceptions in five years for Cincinnati.
He then hit the open market in 2023 and the Atlanta Falcons broke out the checkbook. The veteran safety signed a four-year, $64.02 million deal with the Dirty Birds, who landed a game-changer for the back end of their secondary.
Bates earned his second All-Pro appointment in his first season with Atlanta after putting up 132 tackles and six picks — both career-highs.
2. Simon Fletcher, LB, Houston (Denver Broncos, 1985)
Somehow, Simon Fletcher set a league record with 10 straight games with a sack and had the most in Denver Broncos history (97.5) when he retired yet never made a Pro Bowl.
A former Houston Cougar, Fletcher started his career as a defensive end for the Broncos and moved to outside linebacker in 1987 when they switched to a 3-4 defense and flourished. His sack record was eventually broken by Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware tied his streak of 10 games straight with a sack. Eventually, Chris Jones broke that streak. Still, these are some elite names Fletcher finds himself mentioned among, proving he was an absolute monster.
Fletcher had a stretch of dominance from 1989 through 1993 where he had at least 11 sacks in each of those seasons. That included a career-high 16 in 1992. He even set a club record with four in a single game during the 1990 campaign.
He continued to have his name mentioned among elite players as he was inducted into Denvers Ring of Fame in 2016 at the same time as Jason Elam and John Lynch.
Fletcher might not have been given the recognition he deserved during his playing days but he was exceptional at what he did and comes in as the second-best player to be selected 54th in the draft.
1. Anquan Boldin, WR, Florida State (Arizona Cardinals, 2003)
There's no denying Larry Fitzgerald was the best wide receiver the Arizona Cardinals have ever had. But the year before he was drafted, they landed another stud that allowed them to feature one of the most fearsome receiving duos in the NFL.
Taken at pick No. 54 in 2003 out of Florida State, Anquan Boldin burst onto the scene with a 10-reception, 217-yard performance which is a record for the most receiving yards in a debut. He finished his rookie campaign with 1,377 yards on 101 receptions with eight touchdowns.
Ahead of the draft, there were concerns due to his 4.7 time in the 40-yard dash but Boldin’s talent was evident despite his lack of elite speed. He not only came on strong but had a long career that spanned 14 seasons. His final year was in 2016 and he still scored eight touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers at the age of 36.
Browns fans surely remember him from his three-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens where he helped them win a Super Bowl in 2012. During that run, he had 380 yards and four touchdowns in the playoffs alone.
In all, Boldin hauled in 1,076 passes for 13,779 yards with 82 touchdowns. One of the best receivers of his generation, Boldin stands atop an impressive list of players taken at No. 54.