Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Cleveland Browns: The best drafted player at every position since 1999

By Chad Porto

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 25: Defensive back Joe Haden #23 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after an interception with Tashaun Gipson #39 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 25, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 25: Defensive back Joe Haden #23 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after an interception with Tashaun Gipson #39 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 25, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) /

Defensive Back- Joe Haden

Joe Haden is just like Joe Schobert in the sense that letting either man leave was a mistake. Having Schobert, Haden, Garrett, Denzel Ward, and maybe a few guys like Christian Kirksey on a reduced deal and Carl Nassib would have made the Browns a Top 10 defense.

That’s just me fantasy booking this team, however. Besides Garrett and Ward, none of those guys are left. Now, Ward is really good and might one-day surpass Haden on this list. That’s up for debate, however, we’ll just have to wait and see how good Ward gets.

Haden went to the Pro Bowl twice in Cleveland (three times overall) and was once considered to be the only corner as good as, if not better than Richard Sherman and Darrelle Revis. Injuries sapped him of that once-promising stature and the Browns’ management demanded he should take a pay cut shortly after his slight decline. Haden didn’t agree, got cut, and went to Pittsburgh where he’s rejuvenated his career and is once again a Top 10 cornerback in the league.

Haden will be a free agent in 2021, and here’s hoping the Browns make a run to re-acquire a potential Hall of Fame defensive player to play next to Ward. It’s a pipe dream, obviously, but stranger things have happened.

Haden’s time, like Joe Thomas’, is hard to look back knowing how many opportunities that were blown and all the busts that failed to pan out. Players and coaches included. These men deserved better.

They deserved at least one playoff run.

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