Factory Of Sadness
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Browns: 10 Greatest undrafted free agents since 1999

By Chad Porto

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 01: Porter Gustin #97 of the Cleveland Browns in action against Ramon Foster #73 of the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 1, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 01: Porter Gustin #97 of the Cleveland Browns in action against Ramon Foster #73 of the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 1, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 09: Punter Reggie Hodges #2 and kicker Phil Dawson #4 of the Cleveland Browns kick off during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 9, 2012, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Chiefs 30-7. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 09: Punter Reggie Hodges #2 and kicker Phil Dawson #4 of the Cleveland Browns kick off during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 9, 2012, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Chiefs 30-7. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

K Phil Dawson (1998)

Phil Dawson spent 14 of 21 years in Cleveland is a pretty impressive feat. Like with others on this list, the Browns were the ones who decided to not bring back arguably the greatest kicker in franchise history. Dawson was originally a class of 1998 player, having kicked for the Texas Longhorns and having a longer and more successful career than his Heisman-winning teammate Ricky Williams.

Dawson would spend one pre-season in Oakland with the Raiders before getting cut and moving on to New England. Eventually, the Browns came calling in time for their inaugural 1999 season. Dawson would then kick for the Browns for 14 seasons, where he’d set all sorts of kicking records for the Cleveland-based squad.

Despite his abilities and skillset, he only went to one Pro Bowl in 2012, his last year in Cleveland, but was a two-time Second-team All-Pro Player in 2007 and 2012.

Dawson saw the only two winning seasons the Browns had before 2020 and was a key component of those squads. Dawson, alongside Chris Gardocki and Josh Cribbs, all stood out as special team players who were considered one of, if not the best in the league at their positions when they were with the Browns. Dawson overlapped with Gardocki’s tenure, which ended after 2003, and Cribbs, which started in 2005.

Dawson signed a one-day contract in 2019 to retire a member of the Browns.

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