The Cleveland Browns have drafted at least one player in the first round of the NFL Draft for 18 of the 20 years since their return to the NFL in 1999.
That’s 26 players drafted in the first round in that time period, the second-most in the NFL (one less than the San Francisco 49ers).
Let’s break down some interesting facts and statistics about the Browns’ first-round draft picks since 1999.
In counting down from eight to one, how many of these do you know?
8 colleges that the Browns have drafted more than one first-rounder from since 1999…
[su_spoiler title=”Answer” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]Answer: Since 1999, the Browns have tapped 18 different colleges for first round draft picks. Eight of those have produced more than one first rounder for the Browns, and they include Baylor, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M[/su_spoiler]
7 players from this conference have been drafted by the Browns in the first round since 1999 (the most of any conference)..
[su_spoiler title=”Answer” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]Answer: Since 1999, the Browns have drafted more first rounders from the SEC than any other conference. All 26 Browns’ first round picks since 1999 have come from Power 5 conferences.t[/su_spoiler]
6 times that the Browns have done this in the first round since 1999…
[su_spoiler title=”Answer” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]Answer: Trade one of their first-round picks. Even though they’ve done it six times since 1999, the Browns have still drafted a whopping 26 first rounders in this time period![/su_spoiler]
5 of these have been drafted in the first round by the Browns since 1999 (more than any other position)…
[su_spoiler title=”Answer” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]Answer: If you guessed anything other than quarterback, then you probably haven’t followed the Browns’ signal caller plight over the last two decades. In case you were wondering, the five QBs drafted by the Browns in the first round since 1999 are Tim Couch (1999), Brady Quinn (2007), Brandon Weeden (2012), Johnny Manziel (2014), and Baker Mayfield (2018).[/su_spoiler]
4 of these coveted draft day distinctions have been “earned” by the Browns since 1999…
[su_spoiler title=”Answer” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]Answer: The first overall draft pick. The four times that the Browns have drafted first overall are more than any other team in the NFL since 1999. Who were these four picks? Tim Couch (1999), Courtney Brown (2000), Myles Garrett (2017), and Baker Mayfield (2018).[/su_spoiler]
3 trades were made by the Browns in the first round of the 2009 draft before making a pick. Who were the teams that traded up with the Browns?
[su_spoiler title=”Answer” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]Answer: The first round of the 2009 draft was an eventful one for the Browns, as they traded the 5th overall pick to the Jets, and then traded down with the Bucs for the 17th overall pick, and then again with the Eagles for the 19th overall pick. Who did the Browns eventually draft with their first pick? Alex Mack, a center from California at 21st overall.[/su_spoiler]
2 Heisman Trophy winners have been drafted by the Browns in the first round since 1999. Who were they?
[su_spoiler title=”Answer” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]Answer: Johnny Manziel in 2014, and Baker Mayfield in 2018. Manziel and Mayfield were two out of 15 Heisman Trophy winners drafted in the first round of the NFL draft since 1999. Of those 15, 12 were quarterbacks, and four of the 12 are current NFL starters (Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, and Jameis Winston).[/su_spoiler]
1 player from a BCS National Championship winning team was drafted by the Browns in the first round since 1999. Who was it?
[su_spoiler title=”Answer” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]Answer: Trent Richardson in 2012 (after winning the 2011 BCS National Championship with Alabama). Coincidentally, Alabama has had 32 NFL first round draft picks chosen since 1999, which is second only to Ohio State (34) for the same time period.[/su_spoiler]
Check back in for more draft statistics and analysis as the season winds down.
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