The Cleveland Browns haven’t been known for their talent-loaded rosters but there are more than enough players since 1999 to build an All-Decades team with.
With 2021 officially starting a new decade, it seemed like a good idea to close out the Cleveland Browns All-Decade Revival team. The 52 best players and three best coaches of the last 21 years, placed on the team to make up one superpower all-time great squad.
So here’s the basic gist of this list. It isn’t just about the biggest names or the best players. It’s about the best fits. How do I think X-player will do on this team and how will this team be able to use that player. Some very talented players won’t make the list for one reason or another, mostly because they’re problems. I’m going to build a team of 52 players, and I’ll throw a few names onto the practice squad.
Eventually, I’ll be doing an earnest All-Time team, dating back to the team’s first years and up until now. Also, there’s going to be the All Factory of Sadness-Team; made up of the talent that helped define the Factory of Sadness over the last 21 years.
So, who didn’t make the cut?
Not every obvious player made the cut and there’s a reason for that. If someone didn’t make the cut, it’s either because there was someone better, they’re a player who doesn’t bring something new, or they’re a player who has issues that warrant passing on them.
When you think of Odell Beckham Jr., you see a guy who’s constantly causing problems and drama no matter where he goes. Then you have Jamal Lewis who, while yes had a good year or two in Cleveland, wasn’t the same runner he was in Baltimore and had his own issues with the law. Speaking of those who had issues, we’re looking at you, Kellen Winslow. He’s serving a sentence for a rape charge and an assault and battery charge.
Then you have a former offensive guard and tackle in Ross Verba, who while never tried, had a history that followed him during his later years in Cleveland.
There are also the types of players who were good guys to the best of our knowledge and wasn’t a headache by any means but just wasn’t good enough or long enough to warrant a spot.
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.
Defense
The offense is made up of a good number of guys who can play multiple positions. The same thing, but to more of a degree, is what’s going on here defensively. Multiple guys could play at multiple positions depending on need.
Defensive Ends
"RE1: Myles Garrett RE2: Paul Kruger LE1: Kenard Lang LE2: Kamerion Wimbley"
It should be obvious why Myles Garrett is on this list. It may not be obvious why everyone else is where they are. The Browns, historically, have been bad at acquiring defensive ends. Kenard Lang was maybe the best all-around player of the bunch, with decent pass-rushing skills and the ability to play the run. He’s also big enough to slide in as an anchor tackle. Paul Kruger and Kamerion Wimbley aren’t traditionally any one position. They’ve played outside linebackers in 3-4’s and ends in 4-3’s. They’re not just able to help at the end spot but can move to outside linebacker if needed.
Defensive Tackles
"DT1: Orpheus Roye DT2: Larry Ogunjobi NT1: Shaun Rogers NT2: Gerard Warren"
I think Orpheus Roye is a borderline Browns’ legend. At least in the modern era. Like many on this list, he’s able to play defensive end or tackle and has shown to have great versatility. He’s one of the better run-stopping defensive linemen the Browns have had since 1999 and his inclusion should be obvious. He’s so good at stopping the run, he had 88 tackles for a season once. His backup is Larry Ogunjobi. He’s inconsistent at times but his ceiling and basement aren’t far apart, unlike say, Sheldon Richardson. That’s the three-technique, for the nose tackle or one/two technique tackle (or nose if needed), that’s going to be Shaun Rodgers. Another player who came into Cleveland and did really well at a time when no one was paying attention. His backup will be Gerard “Big Money” Warren, mostly due to the fact that he had a decently long career and is a big dude who can fill a gap.
Outside Linebackers
"ROLB1: Jamir Miller ROLB2: Kamerion Wimbley LOLB1: Joe Schobert LOLB2: Scott Fujita"
Right off the bat, you’ll see that Wimbley is backing up another position. That position will see Jamir Miller start. Miller was the first man to go to the Pro Bowl since the team returned in 1999 and had some really good skills in the pass-rushing department. Opposite of him is another Pro Bowl linebacker in Joe Schobert. He came into the Browns as an outside linebacker and only moved inside due to injuries. Schobert will be able to cover with the best of them and should give the Browns defense a really solid starting duo. The Browns’ history with linebackers since the return is as bad as their run with ends. Scott Fujita is really the only player who makes sense here. He’s reliable, consistent, and is just good enough at everything to start if needed.
Middle Linebackers
"MLB1: D’Qwell Jackson MLB2: Christian Kirksey MLB 3: Andra Davis"
They’re all part of the 100 tackle club with the Browns. D’Qwell Jackson was the man in the middle for the Browns’ best years as a defense, so he gets the nod. Christian Kirksey when healthy is as sure as a linebacker can come and Andra Davis was a forgotten gem who did a lot with very little help around him. Earl Holmes and Wali Rainer nearly made the list.
Cornerbacks
"CB1: Joe Haden CB2: Denzel Ward CB1B: Daylon McCutcheon CB2B: Anthony Henry"
For the sake of things, the CB1 covers the top guy on the field, hence the designation. Joe Haden is a better and healthier option over Denzel Ward but that doesn’t mean either man is a bad pick. The Browns have had solid corners over the years but those are the two best. Daylon McCutcheon and Anthony Henry are both guys who did a lot of good work for the team around the turn of the century. Henry’s big and long, which helps a lot against the DK Metcalf types. Then you have McCutcheon, who’s as gritty as they come. He’ll make it hard for a guy to release off the line of scrimmage and then hassle him until the end of the play.
Safeties
"SS1: T.J. Ward SS2: Donte Whitner FS1: Brian Russell FS2: Earl Little"
Some people want to argue and suggest Donte Whitner was a better player than T.J. Ward. That’s not true, which is why Ward is over Whitner at strong safety. He could hit with the best of them and his coverage skills were solid. Opposite from him is a player who only two years in Cleveland but started everywhere he went, and that’s Brian Russell. He was excellent in coverage and was a sure-fire tackle waiting to happen. Earl Little serves as his backup, a name many may not remember, but he played really well in the secondary behind McCutcheon
Special Teams and Coaches
The special team’s players are pretty obvious if you have been paying attention to Browns football at all over the last 21 years.
Kicker/Punter/LS/Return Men
"K: Phil Dawson P/H: Chris Gardocki LS: Ryan Pontbriand KR/PR: Josh Cribbs PR/KR: Dennis Northcutt"
Phil Dawson is obviously the kicker the team needs. He’s the best kicker the team ever had outside of Otto Graham. Chirs Gardocki went years without a blocked punt, that type of efficiency is needed. Ryan Pontbriand was a two-time Pro Bowler for long-snapping. Then guys like Josh Cribbs and Dennis Northcutt were wizards as return men. The hope is that they can also contribute offensively if need be.
Practice Squad:
"QB: Brian Hoyer RB: Jamel White FB: Andy Janovich OL: Dave Wohlabaugh DL/LB: Olivier Vernon DB: Leigh Bodden DB: Sean Jones"
Here are a few extra names to serve as the honorable mention category. Only they’re being dubbed the practice squad. Brian Hoyer showed he could win in a pinch. Jamel White is as good as a runner as he is a receiver. Andy Janovich may be needed as a pure fullback in a pinch. Dave Wohlabaugh is a good center who can play elsewhere if need be. The same idea goes for DE/LB Olivier Vernon. He’s not the best to ever play the position but he’s versatile enough to be useful. Leigh Bodden and Sean Jones add depth to the secondary.
Coaches
"HC: Kevin Stefanski OC: Rob Chudzinski DC: Ray Horton"
Now maybe it’s fair to consider Romeo Crennell or Butch Davis but honestly, Kevin Stefanski changed the culture in Cleveland, and that warrants him the spot for that alone. Rob Chudzinski is both a former offensive coordinator and former head coach of the Browns. It’s his time as Derek Anderson’s quarterback however that showed fans what he’s capable of doing as a play-caller. So he’s your offensive coordinator. As far as defensive coordinator goes, you might be surprised to know that Ray Horton coached the unit the years the team actually had anything to brag about from that side of the ball. He’s your best bet to get this defense going.