Discouraged by the lack of success that my favorite NFL team, the Cleveland Browns, have had since their return to the NFL in 1999, I’m deciding to be a fantasy GM and redo their drafts. After redrafting in1999, 2000, and 2001, we’ve built quite an impressive team through the draft alone. As good as my redarft is, the actual drafting by the Browns during those three years was just as bad, which is a big reason for the firing of Dwight Clark, who was mainly responsible for the three-year train wreck. Now we’re fully into the Butch Davis era. Although he was head coach in 2001, he gained power of personnel decisions in 2002, and mainly the draft. So now I reexamine the 2002 draft and see how my picks (granted in hindsight) stack up to what Davis did. At this point, there aren’t very many holes to fill on the team. So, my philosophy on the draft is, unless you have a major need to fill, you pick the best available talent, regardless of position, and let the chips fall where they may. Cleveland originally picked around the middle of the draft (16), but I’m assuming the team was more successful in 2001 with the new crop of players, so I’m choosing around picks 22-23.

2002 Redraft

Round 1: SS Ed Reed

Original pick: RB William Green. Despite several questions about his character, Davis made Green his top pick in 2002. It looked like a good move early on, when Green rushed for 887 yards and six TDs during his rookie year. He began the next year strong as well, rushing for 559 yards over the first seven games. Then the wheels came off. He was suspended for four games for a drunk driving and marijuana possession arrest. While serving the suspension, he was stabbed by his fiancee during a domestic dispute. The NFL suspended him for the remainder of the 2003 season. Although playing the entire 2004 season, Green rushed for only 585 yards, and was gone from the league following an injury-filled 2005 season where he played in only eight games. He’s attempting a comeback during the 2008 season.

Taken eight picks after William Green, Ed Reed has been nothing short of a terror in the defensive backfield for the Ravens, making it to the Pro Bowl four times (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007). He probably would have made it in 2005 as well if he didn’t miss six games with an ankle injury. He is the Ravens all-time INT leader with 34, has blocked four punts and returned three for touchdowns. He is also the first person in NFL history to return an interception, punt, blocked punt, and fumble for a touchdown. Did I mention he plays for the Ravens? It would be great to screw them out of a player of this caliber.

Round 2: CB Sheldon Brown

Original pick: WR Andre Davis. Davis has never been able to become a starting wide receiver during his career. His best season was in 2003 with 40 receptions, 576 yards and five TDs. After three years in Cleveland, Davis spent a year each with the Patriots and Bills, making 13 total catches during those two years. Last season in Houston, he benefitted from an injury to WR Andre Johnson and made 33 recptions for 583 yards and three TDs.

Brown is a fixture in the Eagles defensive backfield, playing in every game during his six-year career, and starting every game since late in 2003. Since becoming a full-time starter, Brown is averaging over 66 tackles and nearly 3 INTs a season.

Round 3: RB Brian Westbrook

Original pick: C Melvin Folwer. Folwer was mainly a backup guard and center during his three years in Cleveland., although he did start 10 games at LG in 2003. He was traded to Minnesota in 2005, where he played one year. His career took off the following year after signing with Buffalo, starting every game the last two seasons at center.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection (2004, 2007), Westbrook is a key part of the Eagles offense. He became the featured back midway through his second year, when he rushed for 613 yards, caught 37 passes for 332 yards, and scored 11 TDs. The following year, he ran for 812 yards, caught 73 passes for 703 yards, and scored nine TDs, and still missed three games. The next year, he missed four games and still put up 1,233 yards rushing and receiving, and scored seven times. He’s been fairly healthy the last two years, missing only three games total. During those two years, he averaged 1,275 yards rushing, 84 receptions for 735 yards, and 12 TDs. Imagine the damage an offense can do with he and LT in the backfield together.

Round 4: ILB Larry Foote

Original pick: LB Kevin Bentley. Bentley has had an average career. He spent three years with the Browns, three in Seattle, and is now with Houston. His best season was 2003, when he recorded 96 tackles and one interception in 16 games, starting in 14. The next year he netted 62 tackles. In Seattle, Bentley never made more than 31 tackles in a seingle season.

Foote played very little during his first two years. In 2004, he became a starter and hasn’t missed a game yet. During the last four years, he’s averaging 85.5 tackles, three sacks and one interception a season.

Round 4: DE Aaron Kampman

Original pick: LB Ben Taylor. Taylor has had an up-and-down career, literally. Look at these stats:

• 2002: seven games, four tackles
• 2003: 13 games (eight starting), 81 tackles, 1 interception
• 2004: three games, eight tackles
• 2005 16 games (starting in all), 113 tackles
• 2006 (with Green Bay): ten games, 12 tackles

He was apparently out of the league last year, which would have be a good year for him based on his statistical pattern. Currently, Taylor is a free agent.

Kampman made his mark during the 2003 playoffs by recording three sacks in two playoff games for the Packers. The following year, he’s become a steady defender, playing every game the last four seasons, and averaging 75 tackles and 9.5 sacks a season. He was elected to the Pro Bowl the last two years while recording 27.5 sacks during that span.

Round 4: ILB Bart Scott

Original pick: TE Darnell Sanders. Sanders hasn’t had much of a professional career to speak of. He spent two years with the Browns, amassing 18 receptions, 118 yards and two TDs. He played in two games with Atlanta in 2004, but never caught a pass.

I was wavering between Scott and Andra Davis (see below), but went with Scott because he seems to have a little more upside to his career, but that could also be due to playing in the Ravens defense. Scott was undrafted and made his mark on special teams during his first three years in the league. He came into his own filling in for the injured Ray Lewis in 2005, starting ten games and recording 92 tackles and four sacks. In 2006 he was second on the team in tackles with 103, he has also recorded 9.5 sacks and two interceptions. He was elected to the Pro Bowl that year as an injury replacement for Lewis. This past season, he made 93 tackles.

Round 5: WR David Givens

Original pick: LB Andra Davis. Davis was a really good pick, and the best of the three linebackers taken by Cleveland in this draft. He played in all 16 games as a rookie, and earned the starting Middle Linebacker spot the following year. He’s recorded over 100 tackles three times in his career, and had 5 sacks in 2003.

Another Ohio-bred player (he was born in Youngstown), Givens has had a productive, if unremarkable, career. He played four seasons for New England, winning two Super Bowls. In 2007, he signed with Tennessee, but tore his ACL after five games. He’s currently a free agent.

Round 7: OLB James Harrison

Original pick: T Joaquin Gonzalez. Gonzalez had an unspectacular career spanning five seasons (four with Cleveland), playing in 46 games and starting 14. His best year was 2004, when he played in all 16 games for the Browns and started 11.

Also from Ohio, Harrison went undrafted out of Kent State, and signed with the Steelers. Harrison saw limited playing time (mostly on special teams) during his first four years with Pittsburgh. He broke out in 2007, starting in all 16 games, and recording 98 tackles and 8.5 sacks. He was elected to the Pro Bowl that year.

2002 Redraft Summary

With eight picks in 2002, Cleveland originally drafted the following:

• one running back (1)
• one wide receiver (2)
• two offensive linemen (4)
• one tight end (5)
• three linebackers (8)

Out of those eight, at least four are still in the league, and two have had fairly good careers (Fowler and Andra Davis). A better draft than in previous years, but no stars in this group either. As in the previous years, the high round picks are busts for their draft positions.

Let’s look how I did with the eight picks:

• two defensive backs (2)
• one running back (3)
• three linebackers (6)
• one defensive end (7)
• one wide receiver (8)

Out of my group, there are three multi-time Pro Bowlers, and a couple with one trip to Hawaii. I address a couple of need areas, depth in the secondary and running back. Reed adds a dominant defender in the backfield with Mike Brown, and Sheldon Brown adds strength to the cornerback position. Westbrook also adds another stellar back to pair, or split time, with LT. Givens is a lesser receiver in a crowd of Pro Bowlers, but adds depth there as well. Kampman can’t be passed up despite another glut of stud ends on the team. But this could be a blessing, considering Kearse and Ogunleye both originally left their teams as free agents after 2003, and may do the same here. I’m also crowding the linebacking corp, but consider that most of these guys played a couple of years on special teams before breaking into the lineup, and again if/when free agency plays a factor, the position is loaded with talent.

Here’s the challenge in today’s NFL, with a salary cap, whom do you give raises to in order to keep them, and whom do you let go to free up cap space and give their spot to younger (and cheaper) talent? In the old days (pre-1990s), cap space and free agency was never an issue. Now, teams need to let popular and talented players go elsewhere for the sole reason of financials. Now with a solid team in place, those factors will help determine some decisions in the next couple of drafts. Next, we revisit 2003.

After redoing the 1999 and 2000 drafts for the Cleveland Browns, this team would have most of the key pieces to being a powerhouse for the next several years. They would have future Pro Bowlers at quarterback (Tom Brady), wide receiver (Donald Driver, Laveranues Coles), offensive line (Chris Samuels, Brian Waters), defensive end (Jevon Kearse, Aaron Smith, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Adewale Ogunleye), linebacker (Joey Porter, Brian Urlacher, Adalius Thomas), saftey (Mike Brown), and special teams (Mike Schneck, Dante Hall). They would also have a roster of solid players in other positions, and possibly another Pro Bowl player in Jeff Saturday (signed as a free agent in 1999). Now in year three, the draft can be used to fill some holes to solidify this team for years to come.

2001 Redraft

Round 1: RB LaDainian Tomlinson

Original pick: DT Gerald Warren. “Big Money” could be labelled BIG BUST. The third pick overall, Warren never lived up to expectations. His 61 tackles his rookie year has been a career high. Whereas Courtney Brown, the 2000 overall pick by the Browns, was hampered by injuries, Warren just never seemed motivated. He played in all but four games during his time in Cleveland. After four mediocre years in Cleveland, he took his high-expectation, low-performace show to Denver, where he was cut after two years. He’s now with the Raiders.

The fifth overall pick, Tomlinson has missed only one game during his seven-year career. He’s averaging 1,521 yards rushing, 482 yards receiving, and 16 TDs. He’s made the Pro Bowl every year excet his rookie year, when he rushed for “only” 1,236 yards and 10 TDs. In 2003, he became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and record 100 receptions in the same season. For the record, I was begging Cleveland to draft him, and pissed when they took Warren.

Round 2: DT Kris Jenkins

Original pick: WR Quincy Morgan. Morgan is another former Brown that showed flashes of greatness, but could never turn the corner of becoming a star. His second year in Cleveland was his best (56 rec., 964 yards, 7 TDs). But two years later, had fallen out of graces with the organization and traded mid-year to Dallas. He spent the following year with Pittsburgh, only making nine catches, and played sparingly with Denver in 2007.

Jenkins would fill the need for a stud defensive tackle on a team loaded with talented ends. Outside his two injury-plagued seasons of 2004 and 2005, Jenkins has been the anchor of the Panthers defense. When healthy, he averages over 40 tackles and 4 sacks a season. His best single season in sacks was 2002 with seven. He’s made the Pro Bowl three times (2002, 2003, 2006).

Round 3: Steve Smith

Original pick: RB James Jackson. Jackson had a decent rookie year, rushing for 554 yards in 11 games. He was soon nonexistent the next three years in Cleveland, rushing for a total of 517 yards, before going to Green Bay later in 2004. He spent 2005 with Arizona, but didn’t see any playing time.

Smith made a mark his rookie year as a dangerous kick returner. He les all rookies in net yardage with a 1,994 yard, and finished fourth in the NFL in that category in 2001. This performance earned him a Pro Bowl berth as a kick returner. The next year, he became a starting wide receiver, making 54 receptions for 872 yards. In 2005, Smith lead the league in receptions (103), yards (1563), and TDs (12). With the exception of 2004, where he was out all but one game with an injury, Smith has averaged 90 receptions, 1,210 yards, and 9 TDs the last four years despite being the only deep threat on the Panthers. In addition to going his rookie year as a returner, Smith returned to the Pro Bowl in 2005 and 2006.

Round 4: G/T Floyd Womack

Original pick: DB Anthony Henry. Henry was with the Browns for four years, becoming a regular starter in his second year. In 2005, he signed with Dallas as a free agent. He’s averaged 59 tackles and four interceptions a season. Nicknamed “Pork Chop,” Floyd Womack has played in 75 games over the last seven years with the Seahawks, starting 33 of them. He can play both guard and tackle. He would have been the local pick of this draft, having played high school football at Cleveland East.

Round 5: CB Nick Harper

Original pick: LB Jeremiah Pharms. Pharms never made it to training camp after a drug-related shooting arrest two weeks after the draft. He spent 27 months in a correctional facility and now plays in the Arena League. Nick Harper went undrafted, but signed with the Colts. His best year was in 2003, his first as a starter, with 98 tackles and four interceptions. He’s recorded at least 66 tackles and three INTs every year since. He joined the Tennessee Titans as a free agent in 2007.

Round 6: WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Original pick: CB Michael Jameson. Jameson was with Cleveland for five years, but only saw action in three. He started one game. Slipping to the seventh round, Housmandzadeh played sparingly during his first three years with the Bengals. He broke out in 2004 with 73 catches for 978 yards and four TDs. During the last four seasons, he’s averaged 88 receptions, 1,040 yards and eight TDs a season. Housmandzadeh made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2007 with 112 catches for 1,143 yards and 12 TDs.

Round 7: RB Dominic Rhodes

Original pick: G Paul Zukaukas. Zukaukas played four years for the Browns, starting 18 games. Rhodes signed with the Colts after going undrafted in 2001. He played in 15 games his rookie year, starting 10 in place of the injured Edgerrin James. That year, Rhodes rushed for 1,104 yards and nine TDs. He was out for all of 2002, and touched the ball sparringly the next three years behind James. After James left via free agency, Rhodes split time with rookie Joseph Addia, rushing for 641 yards and five TDs. He left as a free agent the following year for Oakland, but at out the first four games due to violating the NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy, and never did much on the field once he returned. He was then released, and resigned with the COlts for 2008.

Round 7: MLB Antonio Pierce

Original pick: WR Andre King. King played four years for Cleveland, amassing 30 receptions for 327 yards and no touchdowns for his career. Undrafted, Pierigned with Washngton and had a decent rookie year (52 tackles). He didn’t see the field much the next two years, but broke out in 2004 replacing the injured Michael Barrow. He recorded 112 tackles (85 solo) and two interceptions. He then signed with the Giants, recording 99 tackles in only 13 games, and 137 the following year (107 solo). His 2006 season earned him a Pro Bowl berth. This past year, he recorded 103 tackles (77 solo).

2001 Redraft Summary

The original 2001 draft breaks down like this over eight picks:

• one defensive tackle (1)
• two wide receivers (3)
• one running back (4)
• two cornerbacks (6)
• one linebacker (7)
• one offensive lineman (8)

Outside of the Jeremiah Pharms disaster, every player logged at least four years in the league, and three are still active. Henry is the only one that’s turning into a respectible starter. Better draft than the previous two years, but that’s like preferring getting attacked by bees verses a lion. The bee attack is less painful and life threatening, but still sucks. Now let’s compare it to the redraft (no extra picks this year):

• two running backs (2)
• one defensive tackle (3)
• two wide receivers (5)
• one offensive lineman (6)
• one cornerback (7)
• one linebacker (8)

Just about the same picks, with an extra running back instead of an extra corner. In fact, the first three picks in both drafts addressed the exact same positions, just in a different order. The new draft picked up three multi-time Pro Bowl selections (the first three picks I might add), and two other Pro Bowl selections. Plus, every player is still in the league, and only two aren’t starting for their current teams. The redraft is definitely a major improvement over what the Browns actually selected that year.

Review of the Three Redrafts

Here’s where it gets painful to look. If the three drafts occured as I redid them, here’s likely what the starting lineups would be at this point:

• QB: Tom Brady
• FB: Dan Kreider
• RB: LaDainian Tomlinson
• WR: Steve Smith/Laveranues Coles
• WR: Donald Driver/T.J. Houshmandzadeh
• TE: Desmond Clark
• C: Jeff Saturday/Todd McClure
• G: Brian Waters
• G: Randy Thomas
• T: Chris Samuels
• T: Jon Jansen
• DT: Kris Jenkins
• DT: Kelly Gregg/Alvin McKinley
• DE: Jevon Kearse
• DE: Adewale Ogunleye/Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
• MLB: Brian Urlacher
• OLB: Joey Porter
• OLB: Adalius Thomas
• CB: Mike McKenzie
• CB: Nick Harper
• SS: Mike Green
• FS: Mike Brown

Assuming these guys would play that they are, the new Cleveland Browns would likely be the elite team in the league and be in a position to win multiple Super Bowls. Compare this to their actual picks, which produced one decent starter in Anthony Henry. It’s no surprise the Browns struggled like they did out of the gate, and just now showing signs of being a playoff contender. It’s worth noting that this was the last draft run by Dwight Clark before he was forced to resign. Looking back, he had absolutely no eye for talent. Next I’ll look at the 2002 draft and see if Butch Davis did any better.

As personal therapy for being a Cleveland Browns fan, I’m attempting to sooth the anguish of the first few years of the return of my team to the NFL in 1999. I decided to play fantasy General Manager and go back in tiime to redo the Browns disastrous drafts that were a big part of the cause of the team’s failure to win. Previously, I redid their 1999 draft. Now let’s move on to year two and reexamine the 2000 draft. As stated in the first post, the Browns gain an additional first and third round pick this year to complete the Saints draft trade to acquire Ricky Williams. With that, let’s begin:

2000 Redraft

Round 1: T Chris Samuels

Original pick: DE Courtney Brown. The first overall pick that year, Brown came in with much promise. He had a good rookie year, totalling 70 tackles and 4.5 sacks. However, he had problems staying healthy the rest of his career. Cleveland released him after the 2004 season, where he signed with Denver, who released him after being on injured reserve in 2007. He never topped 41 tackles in a season since his rookie year, and matched or exceeded his rookie sack total only twice the remainder of his career.

Chris Samuels, originally chosen third overall by the Redskins, became an instant starter. He started every games he’s played in, and missed a total of four games due to injury over the past eight years. He’s also a 5-time Pro Bowl selection (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007). Which of the two do you think has a better career? It’s also interesting to note that over the last two redrafts, three offensive lineman taken currently start for the Redskins (Jansen, Thomas, and Samuels).

Round 1: MLB Brian Urlacher

Original pick: none (via NO).Urlacher became an instant starter his rookie season, starting 14 of 16 games. Outside of missing seven games in 2004 due to injuries, Urlacher has started every game since he became the primary Middle Linebacker. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and selected to the Pro Bowl every year except his injury year in 2004 and 2007 (6 times).

Round 2: FS Mike Brown

Original pick: WR Dennis Northcutt.Northcutt was with Cleveland until 2006, then signed with Jacksonville. Known more as a kick returner, his career receiving averages are 40 receptions, 505 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Mike Brown began the 2000 season as the Bear’s starting Free Safety, recorded the second most tackles on the team that year, and finished second (to Brian Urlacher) in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year balotting. He started all but one game until 2004, when he injured his Achilles in the second game of the season. He returned in 2005, but missed the last four games with an injury. He’s missed most of the past two seasons with injures. Brown was elected to the Pro Bowl in 2005.

Round 3: WR Laveranues Coles

Original pick: RB Travis Prentice.Prentice had a good rookie year, rushing for 512 yards and seven touchdowns, and nabbed 37 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown. He then spent 2001 in Minnesota where he ran for a total of 13 yards. He was in Arizona for 2002 but never played. In 2003, he was gone from the league.

Coles became the starting Wide Receiver for the Jets his second year in the league. He started every game from 2001 to 2006, averaging 81 receptions, 1038 yards, and 5 touchdowns. In 2007, he missed more than four games with injuries, and still totalled 55 receptions, 646 yards and 7 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl in 2004.

Round 3: DT Alvin McKinley

Original pick: none (via NO).McKinley didn’t do much early on in his career. He signed with Cleveland as a free agent in 2001, but didn’t see significant playing time until 2004. From 2004 to 2006, he averaged 55 tackles and 3 sacks a season. He signed with Denver as a free agent in 2007.

Round 3: DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila

Original pick: WR JaJuan Dawson.Dawson spent four years in the NFL, the first two in Cleveland. Career totals are 52 receptions, 664 yards, 2 touchdowns. Gbaja-Biamila has become known as a pass-rushing machine. His yearly sack totals since 2001 are 13.5, 12, 10, 13.5, 8, 6, 9.5. That’s nearly 10.5 sack a year, and he made the Pro Bowl in 2003 because of it. The last two years he’s become more of a pass-rushing specialist as opposed to an every-down defensive end.

Round 4: WR Dante Hall

Original pick: DB Lewis Sanders.Sanders played five years in Cleveland, starting nine games over that span and netting four interceptions. He then spent two years with the Texans, one year in Altanta, and is now on the Patriots roster. Hall is known more for being a kick returner than a wide receiver. He made the Pro Bowl in 2002 and 2003 as a special teams player. He also holds the NFL record in 2003 for returing a kickoff or punt for a touchdown four games in a row.

Round 4: OLB Adalius Thomas

Original pick: TE Aaron Shea.Shea played six years with the Browns and spent 2006 with the Chargers, but never playing with them. His six-year career totals would make a good single season: 97 catches, 851 yards, 7 touchdowns. For the first four years of his career, Thomas filled the role of backup Libebacker and Special Teams player, making the Pro Bowl in 2003 for Special Teams. 2004 was his break-out year, amassing 72 tackles and eight sacks. For the last four years, he’s averaging nearly 80 tackles and nine sacks a season. He also made the Pro Bowl in 2006 as a linebacker.

Round 5: DT Rob Meier

Original pick: DB Anthony Malbrough.Malbrough played only one year in Cleveland, seeing action in nine games and starting one. Meier is a solid defensive tackle, averaging 26.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks a season.

Round 5: QB Tom Brady

Original pick: DB Lamar Chapman.Chapman was with the Browns for two years, seeing action in eight games. Its hard to believe Brady didn’t get drafted until late in the sixth round. He became the starter after Drew Bledsoe went down with an injury in the second game of 2001, Brady’s second year. Since then, he’s gone to four Pro Bowls, led the Patriots to four Super Bowls (winning three of them), voted Super Bowl MVP twice, and was voted league MVP in 2007. This past season, he broke the record for most TD passes by a quarterback (50), had 4,806 yards passing (third all-time), and a passer rating of 117.2 (second all-time). 31 teams are kicking themselves over this oversight.

Round 6: TE Jermaine Wiggins

Original pick: QB Spergon Wynn.Wynn started one game in 2000 and played in six others. His career wrapped up in 2001 with three games played for the Vikings. Wiggins went undrafted and played mostly a backup Tight End role with New England, Indianapolis and Carolina for four years. His best statistical year was 2004 with Minnesota, when he made 71 catches for 707 yards and four touchdowns.

Round 6: SS Mike Green

Original pick: T Brad Bedell. Bedell played two years with the Browns, starting four games in 2001. He then played in four games with the Packers in 2004, and nine with the Texans in 2006. “Mr. Irrelevant” in 2000, Green became the Bears starting Strong Safety by 200. until becoming a backup in early 2005. He then went to Seattle, where he’s struggled with injuries.

Round 7: DE Adewale Ogunleye

Original pick: OL Manuia Savea. Savea never made it out of training camp. Ogunleye was undrafted and signed with the Dolphins in 2000, but sat out while recovering from a knee injury suffered during his senior season at Indiana. He became a starter in 2002 and recorded 9.5 sacks. The following year, he led the league with 15 sacks. He was traded to Chicago the following year, and has averaged 7.5 sacks a year as a Bear.

Round 7: FB Dan Kreider

Original pick: DE Eric Chandler. Chandler never made it out of training camp. Kreider signed with Pittsburgh after being undrafted. He became the starting Fullback in 2000, and maintained that role until 2007. Never much of a ball handler, Kreider is known for his bone-crushing blocks.

Round 7: G Brian Waters

Original pick: DB Rashidi Barnes. Barnes was on the team for one season, then released. Unudrafted, Kansas City signed Waters as a free agent in 2000. He became a starter midway through 2001, and has missed two games since then. He was elected to the Pro Bowl in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

2000 Redraft Summary

With 13 pciks, the Browns originally drafted the following positions:

• two defensive ends (2)
• two wide receivers (4)
• one running back (5)
• four defensive backs (9)
• one tight end (10)
• one quarterback (11)
• two offensive linemen (13)

Of those 13 players, two never made it on a final roster, four more were out of the league within two years, and two others gone within four. That leaves five players that had careers lasting at least six years. Of those five, no one made a significant impact with any team they played on. its safe to say this draft class was a complete bust. That’s two years in a row of wasted picks.

With 15 picks in the redraft (two additional from the 1999 trade with New Orleans), we take:

• two offensive linemen (2)
• two linebackers (4)
• two safeties (6)
• two wide receivers (8)
• two defensive tackles (10)
• two defensive ends (12)
• one quarterback (13)
• one tight end (14)
• one fullback (15)

So I basically matched the positions, and addressed the defensive front seven with the two extra picks and picking two less DBs. My 15 picks are all still in the league, although a couple are battling cronic injuries. I also nabbed six multi-time Pro Bowlers, and four others that have made at least one trip to Honolulu. This draft crop was a gold mine of talent late in the draft that year with two undrafted Pro Bowlers and Brady available until pick #199. With these first two new drafts, the Browns would have had the best offensive line and defensive front seven in the NFL, arguably the best QB in the game today, and a solid receiving corp, defensive backfield, and special teams. This team should have begun turning things around by the third season. Next, we look at the 2001 draft.