Cleveland Browns: The best drafted player at every position since 1999
By Chad Porto
Linebacker – Joe Schobert
Anyone who’s read any of my work knows I’m a Joe Schobert mark. That said, this was not the easy pick you think it was for me. Firstly, Wali Rainer deserves some love for being the team’s best defensive player for the first few years. D’Qwell Jackson was another guy who played big and was a key clog in that 2007 team. His lone Pro Bowl year was in Indianapolis, despite having many years in Cleveland where he deserved to go. Just one Pro Bowl elsewhere, however, hurts his overall standing.
The same could be said for Christian Kirksey, who had a lot of good years in Cleveland but never made the Pro Bowl.
Schobert is the only linebacker the Browns drafted who has gone to the Pro Bowl. Just him, no one else. In fact, the only other player to go to the Pro Bowl as a linebacker in Cleveland was Jamir Miller for his 2001 season performance. He was acquired after years with the Cardinals, however, and wasn’t even an expansion pick up. So it’s not hard to see that Schobert is in a league of his own currently.
Despite moving on, Schobert should have more Pro Bowl appearances in his future with Jacksonville, as he’s a versatile and dynamic player who can gobble up the ball carrier, and play perfect pass coverage. You can’t throw on him. It’s not possible. Well, it is, but it’s still really hard.