Top 10 Reasons Why the Browns Have Failed Since 1999 – #9 Draft Woes Have Plagued Browns

Year: 2013

Number of Picks Used: 5

First Round Picks: 1 – Barkevious Mingo, LB, 6^th overall

Second Round Picks: 1 – Josh Gordon, WR, 2012 supplemental.

Third Round Picks: 1 – Leon McFadden, CB, 68^th overall

Pro Bowlers: None.

Longest in NFL: Three players – Mingo, McFadden, Armonty Bryant (seventh round, LB/DE), 2015.

Longest with Browns: Mingo, 2015, 44 career games; Bryant, 2015, 31 career games.

Noted: Mike Lombardi spent most of his only draft trading picks away for the following season. The most egregious error was selecting McFadden, who only played one season with the Browns and has become an NFL journeyman, one pick ahead of Tyrann Mathieu, who has become a solid NFL starter for the Arizona Cardinals. Technically, the Browns did not have a second round pick in this draft, having used it the previous year for Gordon, who has battled substance-abuse suspensions in three of his four NFL seasons and missed all of this season.

Year: 2014

Number of Picks Used: 6

First Round Picks: 2 – Justin Gilbert, CB, 8^th overall; Johnny Manziel, QB, 22^nd overall

Second Round Picks: 1 – Joel Bitonio, G, 35^th overall

Third Round Picks: 2 – Christian Kirksey, LB, 71^st overall, Terrence West, RB, 94^th overall

Pro Bowlers: None.

Longest in NFL: All six players are currently in the league, including Pierre Desir (CB, fourth round).

Longest with Browns: Kirksey, 2015, 33 career games; Bitonio, 2015, 26 career games; Gilbert, 2015, 22 games.

Noted: Both Gilbert and Manziel have struggled to stay on the field due to a combination of problems both on and off the field. Manziel is currently the Browns’ starting QB by default and is heavily rumored to be moved in the offseason. West was traded on the eve of the regular season and is already playing with his second team this season. Four of the five players taken are still with the Browns, but currently only two are healthy and active – Manziel and Kirksey.

Year: 2015

Number of Picks Used: 12

First Round Picks: 2 – Danny Shelton, NT, 12^th overall; Cameron Erving, OL, 19^th overall

Second Round Picks: 1 – Nate Orchard, DE/LB, 51^st overall

Third Round Picks: 2 – Duke Johnson, RB, 77^th overall, Xavier Cooper, DT, 96^th overall

Pro Bowlers: None.

Longest in NFL: Nine of the 12 players drafted are still with the Browns.

Longest with Browns: Shelton, Erving and Johnson, 2015, 14 career games.

Noted: Second-year GM Ray Farmer had the most draft picks at his disposal since the inaugural 199 season, and thus far, the return has not been good. Shelton is the only true starter, and he hasn’t made much of an impact on the defensive side. Erving has been overmatched in his handful of starts and appearances on the offensive line. Orchard and Johnson have shown glimpses of why they were taken as high as they were.

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