Even with their reputation for dysfunction and draft misfires, the Cleveland Browns have landed several first-round picks in NFL drafts that became key building blocks for the franchise’s future. While they really missed with picks like Johnny Manziel and Justin Gilbert, there are a few positives throughout the team’s history.
In 1957, with the sixth pick in the draft, the Browns selected legendary running back Jim Brown. He made his mark quickly, winning rookie of the year after having a very impressive
first season. He won many accolades throughout the course of his career, including multiple MVP honors, and he is still recognized as one of the greatest running backs the league has ever seen.
Switching gears to the modern day, two first-round draft picks stand above the rest – Joe Thomas and Myles Garrett. Thomas was the third overall pick in the 2007 draft, while Garrett was the first overall pick a decade later in the 2017 draft. While Thomas went on to have a Hall of Fame career, Garrett’s story is still being told. With multiple defensive player of the year honors under his belt, he will likely be standing next to Thomas in Canton, Ohio, when his career is all said and done.
With the sixth pick in this year’s draft, it’s always possible that Cleveland’s selection will join this list of legendary players. At the very least, there is hope of drafting a player who can be a foundational part of this team for many years to come.
Let me know what you think in the comments – Who was the Browns’ best first-round draft pick ever?
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