The Cleveland Browns are one of four teams never to appear in a Super Bowl. The Browns last won an NFL championship in 1964 and join the Lions, whose last title came in 1957, as well as two relative newcomers, the Jaguars, and Texans, in the non-Super Bowl club. Despite a lack of modern success, Cleveland has acquired two Hall of Famers and several multiple-time Pro Bowlers through trades. 

One transaction that did not make the top 10 list involved Kellen Winslow II, a University of Miami product who was acquired as a first-round pick in a trade with the Lions in 2004. He had two good seasons with the Browns, including a Pro Bowl selection in 2007, but the brash tight end feuded with coaches and management at times and was traded to the Buccaneers for two draft picks in 2009. Winslow’s playing career ended in 2013, but he was in the news for all the wrong reasons afterward, including drug possession and burglary charges, and taking a plea deal in a sexual assault case in 2019 that will carry a 12 to 18-year prison sentence. 

The official list (which also includes a trade involving Kellen Winslow Sr.) starts with a 15-player deal between the Browns and Colts that was the largest in league history for 46 years. 

1. March 26, 1953:

Browns acquired: T Mike McCormack, C Tom Catlin, DT Don Colo, RB/S John Petitbon and G Herschel Forester

Colts acquired: QB Harry Agganis, S Bert Rechichar, RB Don Shula, RB Carl Taseff, G Ed Sharkey, G Elmer Wilhoite, E Art Spinney, E Gern Nagler, T Stew Sheets, and T Dick Batten

Here is a little background on this 15-player trade, which is the second-largest in NFL history. The Colts franchise started as the Boston Yanks in 1944 before relocating to New York in 1949 and changing its name to the Bulldogs for two seasons before again taking up the Yanks moniker in 1951. Owner and show business manager Ted Collins sold the franchise back to the NFL, and the rights were purchased by textile company owners Giles and Connell Miller. The team became the Dallas Texans, but struggled in attendance and getting local financial support. The Millers sold the franchise back to the league, and the Colts were born after being purchased by Carroll Rosenbloom, the owner of a clothing manufacturing company. Although the sale was not official until the day after the 1953 NFL Draft (January 23), the team made selections under the Colts name. 

Catlin was a linebacker from Oklahoma who played five years in the NFL. After two seasons with the Browns (including a championship in 1954), he spent time in the U.S. Air Force before returning to Cleveland in 1957. Catlin signed with the Eagles in 1959 and played there for a year before retiring. He spent the next 35 years as a coach, including stints as defensive coordinator with the Rams (1974-75), Bills (1978-82) and Seahawks (1983-91). After the trade, Colo was a starter with the Browns for the next six seasons, winning two championships and earning three Pro Bowl selections. The former Brown graduate and U.S. Navy member passed away on June 23, 2019. Petitbon was a safety at Notre Dame, but he also played some running back with the Browns. He did not get onto Cleveland’s roster until 1955, but he was a reserve when the team won the NFL Championship that year. Petitbon spent one more year with the Browns before ending his career with the Packers in 1957. Overall, he had eight interceptions in four NFL seasons, including five with the Dallas Texans in 1952. 

Forester played four NFL seasons, all with the Browns, before retiring after the 1957 season. He was a reserve on the team’s back-to-back championships in 1954 and ’55, and he started at left guard in the 1957 title game loss to the Lions. McCormack was by far the best player the Browns received in this deal. He did not play with the Texans before the trade, but the Kansas graduate became a star in Cleveland. McCormack started 106 games at right tackle with the Browns, and he was a part of three teams that reached the NFL Championship Game, winning twice. He also earned five Pro Bowls while blocking for legendary running back Jim Brown. After his playing career ended in 1962, McCormack was coach, leading the Eagles in the mid-1970s and the Colts and Seahawks in the early 1980s. He was also a general manager with Seattle from 1982-89 and was the first president in Carolina Panthers history (1993-97). McCormack was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984.

Agganis was a two-sport star at Boston University, but signed with baseball’s Red Sox instead of the Browns. In 1955, he was hospitalized for two weeks with pneumonia. He returned to the Red Sox, but was back in the hospital a week later. The latest visit started as a viral infection, but was actually a pulmonary embolism that took Agganis’ life on June 27. Like Agganis, Rechichar was a star in baseball and football. He played in the Cleveland Indians’ farm system but chose football after being drafted out of Tennessee in 1952. Rechichar spent seven years with the Colts, earning three Pro Bowl selections as a safety and winning a pair of titles. However, he may best be known for kicking a 56-yard field goal in 1953, which stood as the NFL record for 17 years. He played one year each with the Steelers (1960) and the AFL’s New York Titans (1961) before retiring. Taseff was a graduate of John Carroll, a private Jesuit university in Ohio. He starred as both a cornerback and punt returner in the NFL, helping the Colts to back-to-back titles in 1958 and ’59. In nine seasons with Baltimore, he totaled 19 interceptions, 826 punt and 963 kick return yards. After five games with the Eagles in 1961, he spent his final season with the AFL’s Buffalo Bills before retiring. Taseff turned to coaching and was a longtime assistant under friend and former Colts teammate Don Shula in Miami. Unlike most of the players in this trade, Sharkey was a veteran, having spent three years with the New York Yankees in the All-American Football Conference and one each with the Browns and NFL’s Yanks, as well as two years fighting in the Korean War. The former Nevada-Reno linebacker played one year with the Colts, then split the next three with the Eagles and 49ers. He retired due to a neck injury in 1958 after a two-year stint with the CFL’s British Columbia Lions. Wilhoite was an All-American guard with USC in 1952, but chose to pursue boxing rather than football at first. He tried to come back to football, but could not win a spot with the Colts in 1955. 

Spinney started his career in 1950 with the “old” Colts (the AAFC team that transferred to the NFL and played one season before folding). The former Boston College guard was a two-time champion and a two-time Pro Bowler in nine seasons before retiring in 1960. The Colts waived Nagler before the start of the 1953 season, but he earned a Pro Bowl with the Cardinals in 1958. He spent one year with the Steelers and two with the Browns before retiring in 1961 with 3,119 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. Sheets was a tackle from Penn State who was drafted by the Browns in the 17th round of the 1952 Draft but never appeared in the NFL. Batten also did not play as a professional following his selection in the 18th round in 1953 out of the Pacific. Arguably the most recognized name in this deal, Shula started his career with Cleveland and was a reserve in the team’s back-to-back NFL Championship Game losses in 1951 and ’52. A former teammate of Taseff’s at John Carroll, Shula finished his career with 21 interceptions, including 14 in four years with the Colts. After one season with the Redskins, Shula retired and turned to coaching. His 325 regular-season victories are the most in NFL history. He guided his team to the Super Bowl six times, winning twice with the Dolphins, including the NFL’s only perfect season in 1972. Shula died on May 4, 2020 at age 90. 

Assessment: This trade is more difficult than it appears to break down. Each team won two titles after the deal, and both had hits and misses among the acquired players. The determining factor is McCormack, who was a multiple-time Pro Bowler and a Hall of Famer. BROWNS 

2. March 29, 1962:

Browns acquired: QB Jim Ninowski, DE Bill Glass and RB Howard Cassady

Lions acquired: QB Milt Plum, RB Tom Watkins, and LB Dave Lloyd

The Browns brought Ninowski back for a second stint with the team after two years in Detroit. He started his career in Cleveland backing up Plum in 1958-59 and did not fare much better in this go-round, posting a 5-5 record and totaling 2,480 yards and 19 touchdowns in five seasons. He went to Washington for two years and New Orleans for one before retiring in 1969. After four seasons with the Lions, Glass became a star. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and started in four NFL Championship Games, including Cleveland’s victory over Baltimore in 1964. Once his career ended in 1968, Glass became an author and has written more than a dozen books. Cassady was a two-time All-American (1954 and ’55), a two-time Sporting News National Player of the Year, and the 1955 Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State. He earned his “Hopalong” nickname for his elusiveness on the field, which reminded reporters of Hopalong Cassidy, a fictional cowboy hero in movies and television during the 1930s and ’40s. The football-playing Cassady won a title with the Lions in 1957, but his overall NFL career did not come close to matching his production in college. He spent just five games with the Browns as a kick returner in 1962 before he was released and spent the rest of the year with the Eagles. Cassady returned to Detroit for one final season before retiring in 1963. He finished with 1,229 rushing yards, 1,601 receiving yards and 24 total touchdowns in eight NFL seasons.

The Browns traded Plum when his value the highest. He was coming off his second straight Pro Bowl in 1961 and also led the NFL in completion percentage three times. Plum amassed a 23-25-4 record in six years with Detroit, with his best season in the first year after the deal. The Lions went 11-3, but finished second behind the 13-1 Packers in the NFL’s West Division (only the winners went to postseason play at that time). He had 2,241 yards and 18 touchdowns in 1964, but slowly lost his starting role to Karl Sweetan. Plum spent one year with the Rams and another with the Giants before he retired in 1969. Watkins was an All-American at Iowa State in 1960 and played in the NFL for six seasons. He totaled 1,582 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing and led the NFL with 399 punt return yards in 1963 during his five-year stint with Detroit. He retired after spending 1968 with the Steelers. Lloyd was a reserve in his only season with the Lions, then spent the next eight with the Eagles. He was a Pro Bowler in 1969 and totaled 14 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries with Philadelphia before retiring in 1970. 

Assessment: Plum was the centerpiece of the deal, but Glass ended up being the star player. Plum had two good seasons, but Glass was a four-time Pro Bowler who was a big part of four championship game appearances. BROWNS

3. July 12, 1962:

Browns acquired: QB Frank Ryan

Rams acquired: DT Larry Stephens, along with third- and sixth-round picks in the 1963 NFL Draft

Ryan was a Rice graduate who spent his first four seasons in a platoon with Billy Wade with Los Angeles. After the trade, he was a backup but took over as a starter when Jim Ninowski broke his collarbone. Ryan was a three-time Pro Bowler and led the Browns to three NFL Championship Games, including a title in 1964. He ranks fourth in team history with 13,361 yards and third with 134 touchdowns, leading the league in that category twice. Ryan played two years with the Redskins before retiring in 1971. After football, he served as director of information services for the U.S. House of Representatives and athletic director at Yale. 

Stephens played two seasons in Cleveland before spending time with two of the more famous defensive units of the 1960s. He played just one year with the Rams and their “Fearsome Foursome” as a reserve with the group that included Hall of Famers Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen. From there, he was traded to Dallas, where he spent five years as part of the “Doomsday Defense.” His last game was a 21-17 Cowboys loss to the Packers in the 1967 NFC Championship Game. The 1963 third-round pick was Johnny Baker, a linebacker from Mississippi State, who was also drafted by the Oilers in the seventh round of the AFL Draft. Baker chose Houston and had two interceptions in 41 games over four seasons. He ended his career with one season in San Diego in 1967. The Rams used the sixth-round pick on Penn State tackle Terry Monaghan, who never played in the NFL. 

Assessment: Not many trades are easier to call than this one. Ryan was a three-time Pro Bowler who led Cleveland to a title while the three players going the other way combined to play only 12 games with Los Angeles. BROWNS

4. January 26, 1970:

Browns acquired: A first-round pick in the 1970 NFL Draft

Dolphins acquired: WR Paul Warfield

Cleveland traded arguable its best wide receiver for the third overall pick in the 1970 Draft and used it to select Mike Phipps, a star quarterback with Purdue who finished second behind Oklahoma running back Steve Owens in Heisman Trophy voting in 1969. Phipps was inconsistent as a pro, posting a 24-25-2 record in seven seasons with Cleveland. His best year was 1972, when he went 10-3 and led the Browns to the playoffs before throwing five interceptions in a Division Round loss to the perfect Dolphins. Phipps was traded to the Bears in 1977 for two picks, including a 1978 first-rounder that was later sent to the Rams (see No. 6 on this list). 

Warfield was a member of Ohio State’s National Championship team in 1961 and earned All-American honors two years later. He started his career with the Browns, making three Pro Bowls and helping the Browns reach four NFL title games. Warfield played four years with Miami after the trade, making the Pro Bowl each year and earning two All-Pro selections. He also played in three consecutive Super Bowls, won two titles and was a starter in Miami’s 17-0 season in 1972. After playing with the Memphis Southmen in the ill-fated World Football League in 1975, he returned to Cleveland for two more seasons before retiring. Warfield had 3,355 yards and ranks fifth in Dolphins team history with 33 touchdowns.

Assessment: Phipps had one good season with Cleveland, but certainly was not worth the third overall selection. Warfield was a five-time Pro Bowler who was an offensive star on a team that played in the Super Bowl three straight years. DOLPHINS

5. January 28, 1975:

Browns acquired: WR Reggie Rucker

Patriots acquired: A fourth-round pick in the 1975 NFL Draft

Rucker was a Boston University product who started for the Patriots in the early 1970s but became a more consistent receiver after the trade. Although he never made the Pro Bowl in seven seasons with the Browns, Rucker ranks seventh in team history with 4,953 yards and 32 touchdowns and eighth with 310 catches. He was a member of the “Kardiac Kids” team that had several comeback victories in 1980 but retired two years later after suffering a knee injury. He was convicted of embezzling money from Cleveland-area nonprofits in 2016. 

The pick New England acquired was Allen Carter, who was a kick returner and backup running back on two USC National Championship teams in the early 1970s. He totaled 898 kick return and 95 rushing yards with the Patriots before he was released in 1976. Carter signed with the Jets but was released and retired shortly after without playing a game with New York. 

Assessment: Carter couldn’t get going with New England and Cleveland got consistent production from Rucker for seven seasons. BROWNS

6. May 2, 1978:

Browns acquired: First- and fourth-round picks in the 1978 NFL Draft 

Rams acquired: A first-round pick in 1978

Cleveland sent the first-round pick acquired from Chicago in the Phipps trade to Los Angeles, allowing the Rams to move up three spots. The Browns selected Ozzie Newsome, a tight end from Alabama who was an All-American in 1977. Newsome spent his entire 13-year career with Cleveland, earning three Pro Bowl selections and being named an All-Pro in 1984. He posted two 1,000-yard seasons and was a member of a Browns team that reached the AFC Championship Game three times in four seasons in the late 1980s (all losses to the Broncos). After his playing career ended in 1990, Newsome worked as a front office executive for five years, and was the first general manager after the team moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens in 1996. The 1999 Pro Football Hall of Famer held the general manager post with Baltimore until 2018.  The fourth-rounder was Pete Pullara, a guard from Tennessee-Chattanooga who never played in the NFL.

The Rams drafted Elvis Peacock, a running back from Oklahoma. Peacock totaled 1,001 rushing and 474 receiving yards in two seasons with the Rams. He played three games with the Bengals in 1981 before retiring. 

Assessment: When you acquire a future Hall of Famer for a first-round pick who is out of the NFL after three years, you are going to win the trade. BROWNS

7. May 3, 1979:

Browns acquired: First- and second-round picks in the 1979 NFL Draft

Chargers acquired: A first-round pick in 1979

Cleveland’s first selection was used on Willis Adams, a former University of Houston wide receiver who spent seven seasons as a reserve with the Browns, totaling 61 receptions, 962 yards and two touchdowns. The second-rounder was Sam Claphan, an offensive lineman with Oklahoma. Claphan failed to make the Browns as a rookie and signed with the Chargers the following year. He played all over the offensive line in seven seasons with San Diego, appearing in 87 total games and starting 46 before retiring in 1987. He died of a heart attack in 2001.

The Chargers used this trade to move up seven spots and draft Kellen Winslow, who was an All-American tight end at Missouri in 1978. After being a reserve as a rookie, Winslow was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his next four seasons and was named an All-Pro three times. He had three 1,000-yard campaigns and led the NFL in receptions twice (with 89 in 1980 and 88 in ’81). Winslow’s main problem was injuries. He suffered a knee injury as a rookie, a pinched nerve in his shoulder during a playoff game in 1982, and a severe right knee injury in 1984 that required extensive surgery and hampered him for the rest of his career. Winslow made the Pro Bowl for a fifth time in 1987 and retired after the season, finishing his nine-year career with 541 receptions (third in Chargers team history). He also ranks fifth in both yards (6,741) and touchdowns (45). His most memorable game was the game he injured his shoulder, an AFC Division Round Game that became known as “The Epic in Miami.” Winslow scored a touchdown, set playoff records with 13 catches and 166 yards and blocked an Uwe Von Schamann field goal in the closing seconds that would have given the Dolphins the win. Instead, the game went to overtime with the Chargers winning, 41-38. Winslow was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995 and was named a member of the 100th Anniversary All-NFL Team in 2019. 

Assessment: Winslow was an incredible talent who saw his career shortened by injuries. His Hall of Fame status tips the scales. CHARGERS

8. April 9, 1985:

Browns acquired: A first-round pick in the 1985 NFL Supplemental Draft

Bills acquired: LB Chip Banks (did not report so replaced with a first-round pick in the 1985 NFL Draft), along with a 1985 third-round pick, as well as first- and sixth-rounders in 1986

For the first time, a pick from Supplemental Draft ends up on one of these lists. The situation was controversial and needs some explanation. The Bills had the first pick in the 1985 Draft and signed Virginia Tech defensive end Bruce Smith several weeks before actually calling his name at the event. Earlier on April 9, 1985, the Vikings made a trade with the Oilers to move up to the second spot, where they hoped to draft University of Miami quarterback Bernie Kosar was able to graduate with two years of eligibility left, but said he wanted to play for the Browns. Later that day, Cleveland made the above trade, which originally was for a first-round pick in 1986, but could also be used instead in the previous year’s Supplemental Draft (since NFL rules state that if a team selects a player in the Supplemental Draft, that team loses its pick from the corresponding round in the regular draft the following year). Kosar and his agent decided not to file the draft paperwork before the underclassmen deadline, which led to the Vikings crying foul and the Oilers threatening to sue the NFL. Commissioner Pete Rozelle held a hearing that included all four teams involved and said the decision belonged to Kosar, but the Vikings could also try and get him to enter the regular NFL Draft, on the condition that they could not sign him before the event. Kosar decided to forego the regular draft and on July 3, the Browns selected him in the Supplemental Draft and signed him. 

After going through all of that, Kosar had to do a lot to make it worth Cleveland’s gamble. He spent nine years with the Browns, reaching the 3,000-yard mark four times and earning a Pro Bowl selection in 1987, when he threw a career-high 22 touchdowns. Kosar posted a 53-51-1 regular-season record with Cleveland, but his greatest accomplishment was leading his team to three AFC Championship Games in four seasons. He fell victim to John Elway and “The Drive” in 1987, and lost to another late Elway touchdown the following year despite throwing for 356 yards and three scores. Kosar was released by the Browns in 1993 and spent the rest of the year with the Cowboys (where he won a Super Bowl as Troy Aikman’s backup). He was a reserve for three seasons with the Dolphins before retiring after the 1996 season. 

Cleveland originally moved linebacker Chip Banks to Buffalo, but he refused to report, so the Browns sent a 1985 first-round pick instead. The Bills traded the pick to the Packers and got first- and second-round picks in return. The first of those picks was Derrick Burroughs, a former Memphis cornerback who had six interceptions in five seasons with the Bills. After his playing career ended in 1989, he coached at the collegiate level, as well as in NFL Europe, the Arena Football League, the original XFL and the United Football League. He is currently the head coach at Lane College in Tennessee. The second-rounder was Chris Burkett, a Jackson State wide receiver who had 2,288 yards and nine touchdowns in five seasons with the Bills. After being released in early 1989, he signed with the Jets, where he spent the next four years before retiring in 1993. The third-round pick from the Browns was Utah State linebacker Hal Garner, who played 67 games in five NFL seasons and was on the roster for the first two of the Bills’ four straight Super Bowl appearances. He struggled with pain and addiction after his career. The first-round pick in 1986 was used on Ronnie Harmon, a running back from Iowa who had 968 yards in four seasons with the Bills. After signing with the Chargers in 1990, he became a solid receiver out of the backfield, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 1992 and catching eight passes in a loss to the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX. He signed with the Oilers and was with the team for their move to Tennessee before finishing his career by playing one game with the Bears in 1997. Buffalo traded the 1986 sixth-rounder to the Falcons for veteran defensive lineman Don Smith, who had three sacks in two seasons with the Bills. He spent one final season with the Jets before retiring in 1987.

Assessment: Kosar led Cleveland to its greatest playoff success since its last championship in 1964, while Buffalo got inconsistent production from the five players received from this trade and the two subsequent deals. BROWNS

9. April 26, 2012:

Browns acquired: Third overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft

Vikings acquired: First-, fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round picks in 2012

The Browns were in need of a running back and Trent Richardson was the best available coming into the 2012 NFL Draft. He earned All-American honors in both high school and college, was the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year, and the Doak Walker Award winner as best running back in college football in 2011, and he was a member of two National Championship teams with Alabama. He rushed for 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior, but three years later, he was struggling to make an NFL roster. Richardson started out fairly well, posting 950 yards and 11 scores as a rookie, but was traded to the Colts just two games into the 2013 season. He spent the next two years splitting carries with Donald Brown in Indianapolis before the Colts released him after he missed the walk-through for the 2014 AFC Championship Game. Despite tryouts with the Raiders and Ravens over the next two years, Richardson did not make a professional roster again until he played two years with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2017-18. He signed with the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football in 2019 and was the AAF’s leading rusher when the league ceased operations after eight games. 

The Vikings picked up three extra selections and only had to move down one spot. They took Matt Kalil, a 2011 All-American tackle from USC fourth overall. Kalil was a Pro Bowler and a member of the All-Rookie Team in 2012, and he started the first 66 games before a hip injury caused him to miss most of the 2016 season. He signed with the Panthers the following year, but was released after one season due to a knee injury. Kalil tried out with the Texans in 2019 but was let go in the final round of cuts before the regular season. Minnesota used the fourth-round pick on Arkansas wide receiver Jarius Wright, who had 2,039 yards and 10 touchdowns in six years with the Vikings. He has spent the past two seasons with Carolina. The fifth-round selection was Robert Blanton, a former Notre Dame defensive back who played 60 games in four years with Minnesota. His best year was 2014, when he posted a career-high 106 tackles and had his only interception. He signed with the Bills in 2016, where he played two years before retiring. The seventh-round pick was involved in multiple deals that resulted in former Cardinal A. J. Jefferson and a 2013 seventh-rounder coming to Minnesota. Jefferson was a starter for two seasons in Minnesota before going to the CFL in 2015, where he has spent the past five years and also changed his name to Anthony Orange. The final pick became Michael Mauti, a former All-American linebacker at Penn State. Mauti spent two years with the Vikings and three with the Saints before retiring in 2018. 

Assessment: Richardson is considered one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, so Kalil by himself gives Minnesota the edge here. VIKINGS

10. (Part One) March 14, 2018:

Browns acquired WR Jarvis Landry

Dolphins acquired: A fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and 2019 seventh-rounder 

(Part Two) March 13, 2019:

Browns acquired: WR Odell Beckham Jr.

Giants acquired: S Jabrill Peppers, along with first- and third-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft

Landry was coming off a third straight Pro Bowl with the Dolphins and also led the NFL with 112 catches in 2017. Since the trade, he has 164 catches, 2,150 yards and 10 touchdowns in two Pro Bowl seasons in Cleveland. Landry underwent surgery in February 2020 after playing through most of 2019 with a hip injury. Beckham is Landry’s best friend and former teammate with LSU. He was the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. He suffered an ankle injury that caused him to miss most of 2017, but signed a five-year, $75 million deal with the Giants a week before the start of the 2018 season. Although he still went over 1,000 yards for the fourth time in five seasons, Beckham missed the final four games with a quad injury. The vocal receiver was reunited with Landry in Cleveland in 2019 and responded with 74 catches for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns. 

The Dolphins used the 2018 fourth-round pick on Durham Smythe, a tight end from Notre Dame who has 13 receptions and 115 yards in two seasons. The 2019 seventh-rounder was Myles Gaskin, a running back from the University of Washington who ran for 133 yards and a touchdown in seven games with Miami in 2019. 

Peppers was an All-American at Michigan who was a first-round pick by the Browns in 2017. He started 29 games in two seasons and was also Cleveland’s primary kickoff and punt returner. Peppers returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown with the Giants in 2019, but missed five games due to a fractured vertebra in his back. New York also received two draft picks, including a 2019 first-rounder that was used to select Dexter Lawrence, a defensive lineman who was a high school All-American and a member of two National Championship teams with Clemson. Lawrence started all 16 games with the Giants last season, posting 38 tackles and 2½ sacks. The third-round pick was former Old Dominion linebacker Oshane Ximines, who had 4½ sacks as a rookie. 

Assessment: Although Peppers could become one of the league’s better safeties and the four picks could develop into solid players, Landry and Beckham form one of the best starting receiver tandems in the NFL when they are healthy and their heads are in the game. BROWNS

All NFL statistics and awards courtesy of https://www.pro-football-reference.com/

Next: Dallas Cowboys

Writer

-By: Kevin Rakas

Just like last year, the Cleveland Browns are coming into the 2020 season with serious expectations. Unlike last year, though, the culture seems to be a bit more serious and structured under newly hired head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry. To top that off, Baker Mayfield has grown into a much more mature player off the field, which hopefully will translate to on-field success. With expectations high, Cleveland has a rather easy schedule, and will look to take advantage early and often.

Last Year’s Record: 6-10

The 2019 Cleveland Browns season was one to forget, and was especially frustrating with the talent they had on the roster. Whether it was Mayfield’s regression, coach Freddie Kitchens’ playcalling, or star defensive lineman Myles Garrett’s suspension, not much went right. If one is looking for a brightside, the Browns lost games in which they were within one score against the Rams, Seahawks and Steelers, all good teams. With that being said, the Browns did not execute well, and were not disciplined at the line of scrimmage. Look for the revamped offensive line to control the line better in 2020 to protect Baker and help the running game. Getting Myles Garrett back will also be a huge asset to a solid Browns pass rush.

Schedule:

 WEEK 1

@ Baltimore (9/13 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 2

Vs. Cincinnati (9/17 8:20 P.M.)

WEEK 3

Vs. Washington (9/27 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 4

@ Dallas (10/4 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 5

Vs. Indianapolis (10/11 4:25 P.M.)

WEEK 6

@ Pittsburgh (10/18 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 7

@ Cincinnati (10/25 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 8

Vs. Las Vegas (11/1 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 9

BYE

WEEK 10

  Vs. Houston (11/15 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 11

Vs. Philadelphia (11/22 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 12

@ Jacksonville (11/29 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 13

@ Tennessee (12/6 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 14

 Vs. Baltimore (12/14 8:15 P.M.)

WEEK 15

@ NY Giants (12/20 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 16

@ NY Jets (12/27 TBD)

WEEK 17

Vs. Pittsburgh (1/3 1:00 P.M.)

Most Intriguing Game: Week 15 @ NY Giants

Even though the Browns are clearly better on paper over the New York Giants, this game is still going to be intriguing and a must-watch for one reason: Odell Beckham Jr. Last year, OBJ returned to Metlife against the Jets. This year, he will not only be returning to Metlife, but will be facing off against the team that drafted him and watched him turn into a superstar. If everything goes right, the Browns should easily take care of business in this game, but the response Odell Beckham receives and how he reacts on the field will be extremely fun to watch.

Most Important Game: Week 17 vs. Pittsburgh

The term “best for last” is used a lot in society, and it can relate to football too. In the Browns’ case, their last game of the year will be their most important one, a home matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns and Steelers are the clear underdogs in the division behind the Ravens, but both of these teams have a real shot at making the wild card, and this game could easily be a deciding factor on how the playoff spots are filled. Since seven teams make the playoffs in each conference now, there is a chance you see three teams from the AFC North in the playoffs. The Steelers are coming off an underwhelming year, but with Big Ben healthy, they look to make another push for the playoffs. With that being said, Ben’s health is always a question. Speaking of question marks, will Baker return to his rookie form? If so, the Browns are looking at a lot of success. The importance of this game is inevitable, and how these two quarterbacks perform in 2020 may be the deciding factor.

Most Important Stretch: Weeks 10-14

Out of the bye, the Browns are going to have to hit the ground running. From Weeks 10-14, Cleveland will play five games, and four of these games are against playoff teams in 2019. They will host the Texans and Eagles before traveling to Jacksonville and Tennessee. Then, to end this stretch off, the Browns will host the Ravens on Monday Night Football. While four of the five weeks present difficult opponents (as of now Jacksonville looks underwhelming), the Browns still have a good shot to win these games. The Texans are a big question mark this year, but still have Watson. Philadelphia has a tough home stadium with a very good defense, but is weak at the skill positions. Jacksonville should be an easy win for the Browns before they go up against the Titans and Ravens, who are two of the more dominant rushing teams in the league. Baltimore is going to be the toughest game, but Cleveland has played them tough since Baker entered the league two years ago. This stretch of games will prove the Browns worth in 2020.

Prediction: 11-5

While 6-10 to 11-5 is a big jump, the Browns are very talented, and have a very easy schedule to deal with. They play the Giants, Redskins, and Jaguars, all teams that Cleveland should take care of very easily. Teams like the Jets and Raiders can be trap games because of their placement on the schedule, and I think they’ll split these games. Against the good quality competition (Cowboys, Texans, Titans, Eagles, Colts), I think the Browns will win three of these five. On paper, they are better than the Colts and Texans, and can win both of those games if they don’t beat themselves. With the Titans, Cowboys, and Eagles, it will be tough. The Eagles and Titans have very good defenses, and the Cowboys have an abundance of weapons for Dak to throw to, plus Zeke. The best shot to win one of these games is Philly at home. That brings their record to 11-5, but another rough season by Baker Mayfield could make this whole team blow up.

Schedule and stats from nfl.com

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-By: Richie Dordas

Now that the draft is over, we can go back and dissect how every team really did. In this case, it will be the Cleveland Browns. They had seven picks, I’m going to rank and grade them based on their fit.

1st. Jedrick Wills OT, Alabama (10th overall)

It is not a surprise that the best player from a value, skill, and fit standpoint was the Browns first-round pick. Jedrick Wills, an offensive tackle, was selected 10th overall by the Cleveland Browns. Offensive line was a glaring need for the Browns, and they made it a point to address it this offseason. They did this first with the signing of tackle Jack Conklin via free agency, and further addressed the need by drafting arguably the best tackle in this draft. From a value standpoint, this was a great pick for the Browns. Wills was mocked to go to the New York Giants, but they took tackle, Andrew Thomas, instead. No other offensive linemen were picked until Cleveland took Wills, who was first on their draft board for the position. There are some questions on how he will transition to playing left tackle in the NFL because of the newly signed Jack Conklin manning the right side, but guarding the blind side is something Wills is familiar with: in college, Wills had to block for Tua Tagovailoa, who was left-handed. I think that the transition will go smoothly, and the Browns will dominate up front for the first time in several years

Grade: A+

2nd. Grant Delpit S, LSU (44th)

If this was a year ago, getting Grant Delpit in the second round would have been impossible. Coming into the 2019 season, Delpit was projected to be a top-15 pick, but a season of tackling issues and injuries to his ankle made his draft stock drop a little. This is almost exactly what happened to current Browns cornerback Greedy Williams, who fell into the second round for the Browns to take last season. Delpit is also a back-end defender from LSU, and is a low-risk/high-reward pick. If Williams plays like he played in 2019, he is at best a solid player, but would live up to his second-round stock and would fill a need for Cleveland. However, if the tackling issues were in fact from the ankle injury, the Browns got themselves a steal.

Grade: A

3. Jacob Phillips LB, LSU (97th)

Even though he was not the third pick by the Browns, I feel the value of this pick is higher than any other pick in this draft due to the linebacker room being extremely thin in Cleveland. Jacob Phillips, a linebacker out of LSU, was chosen in the third round (97th overall) in the draft. This is where most people had mocked Phillips to go, but the sky is the limit for this player. When you watch Phillips, he is a very fundamentally sound football player. He tackles well, has good patience, makes in-game adjustments, and is said to be mature for his age. Scouts were worried that he did not have the strength or the speed of an NFL linebacker, but a good offseason program can get Phillips to that point. Besides Mack Wilson, there is no clear-cut starter at the linebacker position for the Browns, so Jacob Phillips will definitely get an opportunity to make a name for himself in 2020.

Grade: B

4. Jordan Elliott DT, Missouri (88th)

A big reason why Phillips is ranked ahead of Jordan Elliott is solely on what the Browns needed in their depth chart. While not as much of a need as the other two levels of the defense, grabbing an interior lineman to add to the mix will never hurt. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein described Elliott as a very explosive player, which is key for any defensive lineman. He is also very versatile when it comes to schemes. One thing about Elliott, though is that he is a very raw talent. His technique is a little off, and what he was able to get away with in college will not work in the NFL. I ranked Elliott fourth because he was a safe pick in an area where you can never have enough depth. Elliott will join a group of veteran defensive linemen with Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi, two established football players. While still a work in progress, Elliott can be a very important player clogging the middle if his game progresses.

Grade: B

5. Harrison Bryant TE, FAU (115th)

With David Njoku and Austin Hooper, you wouldn’t expect the Browns to be taking a tight end, but I understand the Browns thoughts on this. Harrison Bryant, an FAU product, was taken in the fourth round by Cleveland. From his combine profile, Zierlein evaluated Bryant as one of the most athletic tight ends in the draft, and even compared him to George Kittle, the 49ers’ all-pro tight end. With the future of David Njoku unclear, Bryant may end up being the guy that takes his place. Many scouts were high on Bryant, but tight ends usually aren’t taken high in the draft, so finding the good ones is always a plus. Bryant is a solid run blocker, but is going to make his money in this league as a receiving tight end. With the Browns running a lot of two-tight end sets and Stefanski’s usage of the play-action, Bryant will definitely find himself on the field more often than not.

Grade: B-

6. Donovan Peoples-Jones WR, Michigan (187th)

For the Cleveland Browns, the top-end of the wide receiver position was covered by Pro Bowl caliber wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. It’s the depth that is lacking at this position, which is why the Browns took Donovan Peoples-Jones with their last pick. Peoples-Jones has huge upside, but still has a ton of room to grow. This is a great situation for him, with three receivers in front of him and a group of receiving tight ends he can learn from. For now, the Michigan product will likely be sitting behind OBJ, Jarvis Landry, and newly re-signed Rashard Higgins for at least the year, but the future is bright for this late-round pick.

Grade: B-

7. Nick Harris C, Washington (160th)

While the talent is there for center Nick Harris, I don’t see the fit for him and the Cleveland Browns. The fifth-round pick out of Washington was described by Zierlein as quick to get into position, and has the potential to grow into a quality second-level blocker. With that being said, Harris is not versatile and is strictly a center. Last year, Cleveland signed their center J.C. Tretter to an extension, and it’s not like he struggled last year. It was a fifth-round pick, so it is safe to take a guy like this, but I don’t know if Harris will be in the Browns plans in the near future. He will be more of a backup and a depth guy barring any injuries in 2020.

Grade: C+

-By: Richie Dordas

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