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.

I’m a Cleveland Browns fan. Always have been. That said, following my favorite team has been more heartache than celebration. The move to Baltimore to become the Ravens was the worst, worse than the AFC Championship games against the Broncos. Since the team was “reborn” in 1999, its been more heartache. In nine years, the team has had two winning seasons, one playoff appearance (where they blew a huge lead and lost), three head coaches, two general managers (three if you count Davis as one as coach), up until this past year only one Pro Bowl player, and a huge amount of dissappointment.

During the draft season in April, I began thinking how horrible of a job the Browns have done drafting players during those first six years, and seeing why the team has struggled as much as they have. The more I thought about it, and looked through the draft histories on nfl.com, the more that point hit home. For my own sanity, I decided to play Fantasy GM and go back in time to correct the problem.

I’m going to make a lot of assumptions. First, that the available players don’t change very much based on the changed picks of the Browns. I’m also assuming that the Browns draft position doesn’t change much the first couple of years from what they actually were (especially 2000 and 2001 drafts). Also that the players would have been just as productive with the Browns as they were with the teams that they actually played for. I’m also going to assume I can make a blockbuster draft deal in 1999 and sign a couple of free agents (one particularly) that went somewhere else in 1999 and had productive careers.

I also contemplated the idea of starting the franchise a year earlier in 1998. The Browns would have been off to an incredible start with a draft for the ages (based on 1999 draft picks). Imagine drafting Peyton Manning (QB, eight Pro Bowls), Patrick Surtain (CB, three Pro Bowls), Jeremiah Trotter (OLB, four Pro Bowls), Ahman Green (RB, four Pro Bowls), Hines Ward (WR, four Pro Bowls), Matt Birk (C, six Pro Bowls), London Fletcher (MLB, three Pro Bowls), and a couple of other solid starters. But since the team came about in 1999, that’s where I’ll start.

The big draft trade in 1999 was between the New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins. The Saints, under the direction of head coach Mike Ditka, swapped first round picks with the Redskins, and also parted with the remainder of their 1999 draft picks (3-7) and their first and third picks in 2000 to move up two spots to select RB Ricky Williams. I’m assuming I can make the exact deal with New Orleans instead of Washington, and move from the first pick in the draft to the fifth. With that deal in place, I’ll now make my “new” selections for the Browns in 1999:

1999 Redraft

Round 1: DE Jevon Kearse

Original pick: QB Tim Couch (first overall). Couch wasn’t a bust on the level of Ryan Leaf, but considering he was the first overall pick, he was pretty close. Granted, he was on a terrible team, but he never showed he can be the franchise quarterback the Browns hoped he would be, and was out of the league after 2003 (with two failed comeback attempts). Kearse, on the other hand, showed his skilled immediately with Pro Bowl selections in 1999, 2000, and 2001.

Round 2: T Jon Jansen

Original pick: WR Kevin Johnson. Johnson was a good choice and a productive player, but I believe in the philosopy that new need to start with building your lines. We started with defense in round 1, now we move to the offensive side. Jansen was a solid starter immediately for the Redskins, and didn’t miss a single game until 2004, when he ruptured his left Achilles in preseason. He then came back in 2005 and missed only one game the next two years, then broke his ankle in the season opener of 2007 and was out for the rest of that year.

Round 2: G Randy Thomas

Original pick: OLB Rahim Abdullah. Thomas started immediately for the Jets, and has been a solid anchor for the Jets and Redskins throughout his career. Abdullah was cut by the Browns after 2000 and has played in the CFL ever since.

Round 3: OLB Joey Porter

Original pick: DB Daylon McCutcheon. McCutcheon played with the Browns through 2006, after which he was released and then retired. During his eight years with the Browns, he played in 103 games with 96 starts and accumulated 463 tackles, 7 sacks, 12 interceptions, 63 pass breakups and 8 forced fumbles. Porter was drafted by the Steelers and was a starter from 2000 to 2006, when he signed with the Dolphins, where he continues to play. He went to the Pro Bowl in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

Round 3: CB Mike McKenzie

Original pick: none (via NO). Mike McKenzie was an instant starter at cornerback with the Packers until traded to New Orleans in 2004. He is still a starting cornerback with the Saints.

Round 3: RB Olandis Gary

Original pick: DB Marquis Smith. Gary had an impressive rookie season filling in for an injured Terrell Davis, rushing for 1159 yards on 276 attempts, a 4.2 ypc average, with 7 touchdowns in 12 games. He injured his knee in 2000 and hasn’t rushed for more than 384 yards in a single season since with either Denver or Detroit. Smith played three years with Cleveland.

Round 4: DE Aaron Smith

Original pick: none (via NO). Aaron Smith was drafted by Pittsburgh and became their regular starter in 2000. He went to the Pro Bowl in 2005 as an injury replacement.

Round 4: QB Aaron Brooks

Original pick: ILB Wali Rainer. Rainer played three years with Cleveland before moving on to Jacksonville and Detroit. his career ended with a stint on injured reserve with Houston in 2006. Brooks went to the Saints in 2000 and became the starter midway that season until he left for Oakland following the 2005 season. He’s thrown for 20,261 yards and 123 touchdowns during his eight-year career, and is the Saints passing touchdown leader with 120 TDs.

Round 5: ILB Eric Barton

Original pick: none (via NO). Eric Barton became a starter for the Raiders in 2002, and signed with the Jets in 2004. From 2002 to 2006, he amassed over 100 tackles each season except for 2005, when he only played in four games due to injury.

Round 5: DT Kelly Gregg

Original pick: WR Darrin Chiaverini. Gregg was originally drafted by the Bengals, but was cut during training camp, and signed with the Eagles. He signed with the Ravens in 2001, and became the starter at Nose Tackle in 2002. Since then, he averages over 66 tackles and 2.5 sacks per year. Chiaverini played two seasons with the Browns, starting in 10 games. He played one year with Dallas and finished his career in 2002 with Atlanta.

Round 6: WR Donald Driver

Original pick: DT Marcus Spriggs. Spriggs had an uneventful three-year career with the Browns, playing in 18 games. Driver is a three-time Pro Bowler (2002, 2006, 2007) with career statistics of 503 receptions, 6977 yards and 38 touchdowns. He has at least 70 catches and over 1,000 yards five of the past six years.

Round 6: TE Desmond Clark

Original pick: LB Kendall Ogle. Ogle had an uneventful two years with the Browns, only appearing in two games. Desmond Clark has had a productive career with Denver, Miami and Chicago throughout his nine-year career.

Round 6: C Todd McClure

Original pick: none (via NO). McClure was originally drafted by the Falcons and became the starting Center midway through the 2000 season (he missed all of 1999 with an ACL tear), and has missed one game since.

Round 6: WR Brian Finneran

Original pick: TE James Dearth. Finneran was undrafted and signed with the Eagles. He moved to Atlanta in 2000 and became a solid slot receiver until tearing up his knee in 2006 and 2007. Dearth joined the Jets in 2001, where he primarily plays special teams and is the long snapper.

Round 7: G Jamar Nesbit

Original pick: RB Madre Hill. Nesbit became a starter for Carolina in 2000, and missed only two games since. He is an anchor on the Saints offensive line, where he’s played since 2004. Hill was cut by Cleveland after 2000, played one year in NFL Europe, appeared in two games with Oakland in 2002, and is now out of the league.

Round 7: LS Mike Schneck

Original pick: none (via NO). Mike Schneck was undrafted and signed with the Steelers in 1999, where he played until 2004. He then played with Buffalo for two years before signing with Atlanta in 2007. He went to the Pro Bowl as a special teams selection in 2005.

Free agent signings:

One free agent I would make a strong push for is Center, Jeff Saturday. He was undrafted in 1998, signed and released by the Ravens that year, and eventually signed with the Colts in 1999. Since the beginning of the 2000 season, he’s started all but two games for the Colts, and has gone to the Pro Bowl every year since 2005.

1999 Wrapup:

Let’s compare actual picks from 1999 with the redraft. With eleven picks in 1999, the Browns took the following:

• one quarterback (1)
• two wide receivers (3)
• three linebackers (6)
• two defensive backs (8)
• one defensive tackle (9)
• one tight end (10)
• one running back (11)

Out of those eleven picks, four players had a career lasting longer than five years (Johnson, McCutcheon, Rainer and Dearth), and only one still active (Dearth). My redraft had five additional picks based on the New Orleans trade.

• two defensive ends (2)
• one offensive tackle (3)
• two guards (5)
• one cornerback (6)
• one running back (7)
• one quarterback (8)
• two linebackers (10)
• one defensive tackle (11)
• two wide receivers (13)
• one center (14)
• one tight end (15)
• one special teamer (16)

Of those fifteen picks, three have made multiple Pro Bowl appearances (Kearse, Porter, Driver), with two others making it once (Smith, Schneck). Of the remaining eleven, eight are still starting for their respective teams. Of the other three, two players have struggled with cronic injures the last few years, and the other (Brooks) was active as recently as 2006.

The redraft wills just about every single position taken in the actual 1999 draft (one less linebacker and defensive back), but also addresses two areas the actual draft didn’t cover, defensive end and offensive line. That’s big, considering how many talented offensive linemen came out of that draft. So in comparison, the redraft puts the actual picks of 1999 to shame. Granted, any team can look back and see what they overlooked. But its clear by looking at this initial draft, the Browns did a horrible job of evaluating talent that first year in attempting to build a team. Outside of a few players, you can even go so far as saying this first draft was a complete waste of time and hurt the team more than helped. Next, we’ll tackle year 2 with the 2000 draft.