The Browns are a team that has turned some heads and really overachieved winning some close games this year. No one really expected them to fight and claw their way to a 7-7 record and they should be commended for that. The odds of making the playoffs being 2 games out of the final wild card spot with 2 to play make this season over for them and the last games a formality. One has to wonder if better drafting decisions could have been the difference this season. Here are five they regret:
DISHONORABLE MENTION: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – 22nd pick overall in 2014
I’m not putting him in the top 5 yet but he deserves mention here because goodness that first start was an atrocity. It’s way too early to make any judgement on how his career will go but we know he was incapable of beating out a mediocre player in Brian Hoyer for starters. This past week in his first start he was 10-18 for 80 yards, 2 interceptions, and his offense was shut out. His QB rating for 2014 is 39.6. Small sample size but he’s been nothing short of awful so far. He’ll be on this list in no time flat if he doesn’t mature and improve.
5. Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU – 6th pick overall in 2013
Speaking of too early to be on this list, the jury is still out Mingo too. The book coming out of LSU was that Mingo was fast and explosive but had a body too lean to muscle through the wear and tear of an NFL season/career. So far his build has definitely stunted his ability to make an impact. The Browns made an extremely high investment with a 6th overall pick and he’s gotten 7 sacks in two seasons (5 last year, only 2 this year). That was the one thing Mingo was supposed to do well – rush the passer – and he hasn’t done it well so far. You have to wonder if he has it in him to ever be a double digit sack guy. The player selected before Mingo, Ansah, already has more than double the career sacks. The next defensive lineman taken, Shelden Richardson, is an interior player and he has more sacks than Mingo (10). A questionable pick when you consider all of the good players that were taken after him.
4. Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan – 3rd pick overall in 2005
Edwards lived up to the hype one year in his career, and that was 2007. He had 1,289 yards, 16 touchdowns and a trip to the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately that was the only year he produced like that. He bounced around four teams, never had more than 61 catches, never went over 1,000 yards and never scored more than 7 times. The 2007 season may have been an indication as to his absurdly high ceiling, but it ended up being an aberration. That draft class included a lot of really bad receivers in the first round, but Roddy White turned out to be a good one. Or the Browns could’ve waited until the second round to select Vincent Jackson. Worst of all, when you look at all the quarterbacks on this list you can lament the fact that they passed on Aaron Rodgers.
3. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama – 3rd pick overall on 2012
The only reason he’s not higher is that he yielded a handsome return with a first round draft pick. But let’s be honest, was he a bust and the pick was a terrible one. Richardson has averaged 3.3 yards per carry in four seasons now. At least the Browns realized the mistake they made and shipped him out when he still had some value. Now it feels clear he will never justify a 3rd overall selection. The next running back taken was Doug Martin, who has already been to a Pro Bowl.
2. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame – 22nd pick overall in 2007
I saw Quinn on television as a commentator this past Sunday for the Panthers-Bucs game and it make me sad to realize he’s officially finished. He’s just 30 years old but his career quarterback rating of 64.4 to go with 12 career touchdown passes and 17 career interceptions likely won’t open any more opportunities for him as a passer. Quinn was supposed to the Browns’ savior at quarterback and instead he was a disaster. He just didn’t have the arm strength to make NFL throws. The next 4 players taken already have 7 Pro Bowls between them. And not that the next QB taken Kevin Kolb was a great player either, but he was better than Quinn.
1. Brandon Weedon, QB, Oklahoma State – 22nd pick overall in 2012
First of all, drafting a 28 year old in the 1st round is questionable enough. Then giving up on him after a poor rookie year and an even worse sophomore campaign makes it laughable. Weedon is already no longer with the team. What a complete waste of a pick. And what is it with this team taken a quarterback 22nd overall? In hindsight, Nick Foles or Russell Wilson were probably better picks there.
Check out our other installments:
Five draft picks why the 49ers won’t make the playoffs
Five draft picks why the Dolphins won’t make the playoffs
Five draft picks why the Titans won’t make the playoffs
Five draft picks why the Saints won’t make the playoffs
Five draft picks why the Jets won’t make the playoffs
Five draft picks why the Bucs won’t make the playoffs
Five draft picks why the Vikings won’t make the playoffs
Five draft picks why the Rams won’t make the playoffs
Five draft picks why the Raiders won’t make the playoffs
