After starting out somewhat slow this offseason, Andrew Berry and the Cleveland Browns have ended the first phase of free agency with a bang. Not only has the team signed eight new players, the re-signed five players, and made a trade as well.
After back-to-back seasons of disappointment, the Browns have done a nice job of flipping this previously overvalued roster without needing to go into full “re-build” mode. While being good on paper is great, it will still be a difficult challenge to win a talented AFC North.
Although Berry and the Browns have made better moves and draft picks over the last few seasons, there are still a few that will leave you scratching your head. Here are five colossal draft night misses since 2016 as we inch toward April.
Cleveland Browns busted draft pick No. 5 – Greedy Williams
I’m not sure if Greedy Williams classifies as a disappointing or busted draft pick. When the Cleveland Browns drafted him in 2019 in round two with pick No. 46, the experts raved at the value the Browns get. Some were shocked that Williams fell to round two and praised the Browns for getting him.
It turns out that the rest of the league was right, and the Browns were wrong. Williams isn’t a bad football player, but his health record has been atrocious.
After playing in 12 games as a rookie, he missed all of the 2020 season and missed seven additional games over his last two seasons with the Browns.
Between a bad shoulder and the Browns having great depth at cornerback, the fit was never right, and Cleveland's front office could have utilized that pick in a better way.
Cleveland Browns busted draft pick No. 4 – Anthony Schwartz
As of right now, Anthony Schwartz is a member of the Cleveland Browns, but I’m not sure Berry will be able to justify it much longer after adding two wide receivers this offseason.
When the Browns were on the clock for pick No. 91 of the 2021 draft, everyone was shocked to hear Schwartz's name. He was all speed with no hands and a limited route tree.
Truthfully, it’s tough to act shocked that it didn’t work out. Name the last guy that struggled to catch the ball and run elite routes in college that wholly transformed in the NFL.
What’s worse is the Browns struggle to even use him in gadget plays and sets because he is so limited. In two seasons Schwartz has under 200 yards receiving and one lone touchdown which is not nearly enough production for a third-round pick.
Cleveland Browns busted draft pick No. 3 – Austin Corbett
This pick is going to be a little different than the other four you’ll read about. When I call Austin Corbett a bust, this one is on the organization. In two seasons with the team after being the first pick of the second round of the 2018 draft, Corbett started only one game.
The Browns then trade Corbett to the Rams where he started 40 of 41 possible games and won a Super Bowl. He then went on to Carolina in 2022 where he started all 17 games at guard and was one of the brighter parts of an ugly season for the Panthers.
While everyone believes this Browns offensive line is elite, I still struggle to see the production on the field. Even though Corbett would be out of his rookie deal, the Browns could have utilized him instead of signing Wyatt Teller to a massive extension who has disappointed ever since.
Cleveland Browns busted draft pick No. 2 – DeShone Kizer
There have been some really bad seasons for the Cleveland Browns, but the 0-16 season in 2017 will likely never be touched. And after destroying the preseason vanilla defenses, Cleveland trotted out their Round 2, pick No. 52 overall quarterback, DeShone Kizer.
Kizer was athletic and could make some plays with his legs, but the Notre Dame alumni had a 53.6 completion percentage, and 11 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions to go with an 0-15 record.
There weren’t a ton of games that were even close that season and it’s really the only time I’ve ever shut games off as a fan and just went about my day acting like the Browns didn’t exist.
Cleveland Browns busted draft pick No. 1 – Corey Coleman
The only reason that Corey Coleman tops Kizer in this list, is because I still single-handedly blame him for their Week 17 loss vs. the Steelers which sealed the 0-16 season.
The Browns were driving at the end of the game and had a fourth down play inside the red zone. Coleman was wide open, and it bounced off his facemask giving the Steelers the ball back.
When Cleveland drafted Coleman with pick No. 15 overall in the 2016 draft out of Baylor, there was a ton of hype. He was a magician in college and had a ton of speed that everyone thought would translate.
But between injuries and drops, Coleman quickly fizzled out of the league and only spent two seasons with the Browns. He started 18 total games, had under 800 yards receiving total, and five touchdowns.
Heading into the two worst years of Browns history, a better pick could have altered the direction slightly.