The New Cleveland Browns All Decades Team (1999-2020)

Offense

The players on this list are going to be guys who serve a purpose or have the versatility that helps make their inclusion a must have. You’ll see some names pop up twice, but they’re only going to be counted once, regardless of how many roles or positions they’re going to cover.

Quarterbacks

"QB1: Baker Mayfield QB2: Tim Couch QB3: Derek Anderson"

It’s pretty obvious who’s the starter on this team. It’s clearly Baker Mayfield. No other quarterback since Brian Sipe has thrown 20 touchdowns in three consecutive seasons besides Baker Mayfield. Not just that, but Mayfield is also the quarterback with the best completion percentage. He’s clearly the guy. Tim Couch is the backup, he doesn’t have Mayfield’s arm but he’s a good manager of a game, plus he can win you games. It’ll be ugly but it’ll be a win. Then Derek Anderson is your third starter. He’s got a cannon for an arm and with the right coaching staff, had shown to be a competent starter.

Running/Fullbacks

"RB1: Nick Chubb RB2: Kareem Hunt RB3: Duke Johnson FB1: Peyton Hillis FB2: Trent Richardson"

This was a hard list because Jamel White really deserved a spot on this team. Yet, we’re looking for various types of talents, and White has the same skillset as Duke Johnson, but Johson was better as a pass-catcher than White, or maybe just more productive. Nick Chubb is your obvious number one and despite issues with Kareem Hunt, he’s shown to be able to keep his nose relatively clean in Cleveland.

As for the fullbacks, I’m going off-book. My list, my roster, my rules. Peyton Hillis was a fullback at Arkansas and in Denver with the Broncos before his move to running back in Cleveland. Having that power runner would be able to keep defenses on their toes. Now, his backup, and why fullbacks have a backup is a good question, is Trent Richardson. Richardson isn’t a great runner and has a tendency to miss wide open gaps. He also has a great nose for the endzone though. In just 54 games in the NFL and AAF, Richardson had 28 touchdowns. He’d be the perfect goalline runner for short-yard touchdowns and two-point conversions.

Wide Receiver

"WR 1: Jarvis Landry WR2: Joe Jurevicius WR3: Kevin Johnson WR4: Braylon Edwards WR5: Dennis Northcutt WR6: Josh Cribbs (if needed)"

So it’s pretty obvious that a healthy Jarvis Landry is the right call to be our team’s number one wide-out. Yet, for number two, I’m going with Joe Jurevicius. Jurevicius never declined as a player until he developed MRSA. His skillset aged gracefully, he was a huge target at 6’5 and would be the perfect compliment to Landry. Kevin Johnson is your slot-guy. Smaller (5’9) but fast (4.41 40-yard), Johnson was able to snag a ball out of anywhere for Couch. He was the perfect compliment for Couch and if he had only another wideout who could play to his level, maybe he would’ve had a better career. Braylon Edward’s height and speed make him a nice big-play option, and Dennis Northcutt is a jack of all trades. Joshua Cribbs could work here if needed as well.

Tight ends

"TE1: Jordan Cameron TE2: Gary Barndige TE3: Steve Heiden"

Part of me wanted to put Harrison Bryant just for prospect purposes. A healthy Jordan Cameron was incredible and it’s a shame he played in an era where there wasn’t much success as a team. Cameron went to the Pro Bowl and made people think he could be an all-time great if it wasn’t for the concussions. Gary Barnidge was both his teammate and replacement and he too went to the Pro Bowl. While Cameron was a pass catcher, Barnidge was the conventional do-it-all tight end. Then we go Steve Heiden, a TE/H-Back type, who excels at blocking but not anywhere else.

Offensive Tackles

"LT1: Joe Thomas LT2: Mitchell Schwartz RT1: Jack Conklin RT2: John Greco"

Obviously, Joe Thomas is starting at the left tackle spot, why wouldn’t he? Despite it being his first year in Cleveland, Jack Conklin gets the start at right tackle. Backing up Thomas will be Mitchell Schwartz, an All-Pro caliber player. Backing up Conklin is OG/OT John Greco, who played for the Browns as a guard but moved around to all three spots on the line throughout his career. Having someone who can play tackle, guard or center is rare and valuable.

Offensive Guards

"LG1: Eric Steinbach LG2: Joel Bitonio RG1: Shaun O’Hara RG2: Wyatt Teller"

The Browns signed Eric Steinbach in 2007 when he was viewed as the best guard in football. He played like it too. He’ll start next to Thomas, with current Pro Bowler Joel Bitonio as his backup. At right guard is Shaun O’Hara, who played guard for the Browns and backed up Dave Wohlabaugh at times but made his name playing center for the Giants. He’ll see Wyatt Teller sitting behind him. Jeff Faine was considered for the second right guard spot, but his lack of experience playing the position prevented him from getting the slot.

Centers

"C1: Alex Mack C2: J.C. Tretter"

This was pretty obvious. Both Wohlabaugh and Faine were candidates for the backup spot here, as was Hank Fraley, but in the end, I opted to go with the best center the Browns have ever had since 1999 in Alex Mack and the current center in J.C. Tretter. Mack’s accolades speak for themselves, while Tretter is Ivy League-educated and that’s not something to shake a stick at.