Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

The Best Player in each Cleveland Browns NFL Draft Class since 1999

By Chad Porto

17 Sep 2000: Kevin Johnson #85 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball up the field during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Steelers 23-20.Mandatory Credit: Harry How /Allsport
17 Sep 2000: Kevin Johnson #85 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball up the field during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Steelers 23-20.Mandatory Credit: Harry How /Allsport /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 08: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes as offensive lineman Chris Kemoeatu #68 blocks defensive lineman Ahtyba Rubin #71 of the Cleveland Browns during a game at Heinz Field on December 8, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 14-3. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 08: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes as offensive lineman Chris Kemoeatu #68 blocks defensive lineman Ahtyba Rubin #71 of the Cleveland Browns during a game at Heinz Field on December 8, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 14-3. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

2008 – DT Ahtyba Rubin (Round 6: Pick 23, 190th overall)

Had the Browns retained their 2008 first-round draft pick and not traded up for Brady Quinn, the team could’ve had running back Chris Johnson, cornerback Mike Jenkins, wide receiver Jordy Nelson or even running back Matt Forte. The Browns also gave up their second-round draft pick to the Packers for Corey Williams, a defensive tackle who stunk for the Browns for his two seasons with the team.

At least the third-rounder the team gave up in the 2008 draft went to get Shaun “Big Baby” Rogers from the Lions.

Instead of having Johnson, Forte or Nelson, the Browns’ first pick was Beau Bell, a linebacker from the UNVL. More on him later. The Browns’ big pick of the year was Ahtyba Rubin. By no means a Pro Bowler or a Hall of Famer but shockingly a really solid starter. Starting 50 of his 72 games with the Browns, he played seven seasons for the Browns, leaving after the 2014 season to sign with Seattle. Beginning in 2010, Rubin started every game he played in for the Browns and kept that pace going for until 2017

The kinda guy you’d have as a starter when you have actual talent around him.

Honorable Mention: LB Beau Bell

Bell gets a shoutout not because he was some gem in the NFL, but because he went on to have a very successful career, playing in ten seasons worth of football for the NFL, United Football League, arenafootball2, the Candian Football League, and the AFL, where he went on to win two Arean Bowl titles, was a two-time All-Arena selection and even won the 2017 AFL Defensive Player of the Year.

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