Ray Farmer gets his second chance to set the foundation as the Cleveland Browns general manager with two first-round picks Thursday night. Teams that draft well usually win. The Browns have struggled in this all-important facet of team building. Today begins the first in a series looking at how the Browns have fared in the draft the last three years.
Year: 2012
Total picks:11
Left on the roster: 4
Starters on the roster: 1
First round: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama -- 17 games in Cleveland, 29 in Indianapolis, 37 total starts; 298 carries, 1,055 yards in Cleveland, 316 carries, 977 yards in Indianapolis. Career average of 3.3 yards per carry. Signed with Raiders as free agent. The Browns started the night with the fourth pick, then gave up that pick plus three more -- in the fourth, fifth and seventh rounds -- to move up one spot for Richardson. He had a productive rookie season under Pat Shurmur, with 950 yards and 11 touchdowns. But after a poor start in 2013, Joe Banner traded Richardson to the Colts for a first-round pick. The trade was much criticized at the time, but turned out to be wise, as Richardson never built on his rookie season. He lacked explosiveness, seemed to miss holes and played like a guy who had too much wear on him in college. There has not been a running back taken in the first round since.
First round: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State -- 23 games, 20 starts in Cleveland, five games and one start in Dallas; completed 438-of-784 for 5,116 yards, 23 TDs and 26 INTs and a 5-15 record in Cleveland; 24-of-41 in Dallas. The Browns were so desperate to replace Colt McCoy that they drafted a quarterback in the first round who would be 29 during his first season. This was the year, remember, that the Browns were unable to trade up to acquire Robert Griffin III. Weeden had moments early, but struggled as defenses started to catch up to him. Joe Banner didn’t want Weeden, but the Browns had no one else in his second season, so he started and struggled. He lost all his starts, was released after the season and now is Dallas’ backup.
Second round: Mitchell Schwartz, OT, California -- Started all 48 games in his three seasons. Coach Mike Pettine continually praises Schwartz, saying he is a fine player, but Pro Football Focus said he gave up seven sacks and 22 hurries last season. Schwartz is the only starter left from the ’12 draft, but he is playing on the final year of his rookie contract and may be headed to free agency after the season.
Third round: John Hughes, DT, Cincinnati -- 36 games, seven starts; 85 tackles, four sacks. Hughes was starting to show his ability last season, but lost 11 games to a knee injury. The Browns obviously liked what they saw last season as they signed Hughes to a one-year extension that ties him to the Browns through 2015. Hughes' long-term future depends on how he plays this season and next.
Fourth round: Travis Benjamin, WR, Miami -- 38 games; 41 receptions, five TDs, two punt return TDs. Benjamin was gaining notice as a punt returner in 2013, but had his season cut short by a torn knee ligament. He worked hard in the offseason and earned the respect of his teammates by playing far better than expected as a receiver. However, he seemed to lose confidence as a returner. He sticks with the team as a situational receiver and returner.
Fifth round: James-Michael Johnson, LB, Nevada -- 10 games, eight starts, 36 tackles in one season in Cleveland; 32 games, 10 starts, 59 tackles in two seasons in Kansas City. Johnson had a very good rookie training camp, but a shoulder injury in the preseason finale sidelined him for five games. He never caught and lasted just one season in Cleveland.
Fifth round: Ryan Miller, OG, Colorado -- Played just eight games in one season for the Browns.
Sixth round: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas -- Spent 2012 on injured reserve in Cleveland and was traded after the season for RB Dion Lewis.
Sixth round: Billy Winn, DT, Boise State -- 18 starts in three seasons for the Browns; 78 tackles, three sacks and one interception (of Cam Newton). Part of a defensive line rotation. Winn’s strength is that he’s athletic enough to contribute in different ways.
Seventh round: Trevin Wade, DB, Arizona -- Spent one season with the Browns, one with the Saints, one with the Lions.
Seventh round: Brad Smelley, FB, Alabama -- Spent one season in Cleveland; had one reception for three yards.
BONUS PICK
Second round, supplemental draft: Josh Gordon, WR, Baylor -- Tom Heckert shocked the world by giving up the Browns' 2013 second-round pick to take Gordon in the supplemental draft. Gordon seemed to be justifying the pick, as he led the league in receiving with 1,646 yards despite being suspended for two games. But in 2014, Gordon was suspended for the first 10 games, played lazily in five and then was suspended for the season finale after missing the team’s walkthrough the final Saturday. Gordon will be suspended for the entire 2015 season. His long-term future with the Browns is in serious doubt.
