Ranking every Cleveland Browns first round draft pick since 1999
By Chad Porto
29. CB Justin Gilbert, 2014 – 8th Overall
If you were thinking of another player, he’s next, don’t freak out. Yes, Justin Gilbert is the worst player drafted by the Cleveland Browns since 1999. He played just two years in Cleveland and a third in Pittsburgh, and was out of the league not long after due to substance issues and laziness. Gilbert was by far one of the worst picks the Browns ever had.
He never recovered, he never played elsewhere. What makes Gilbert the worst is severalfold.
First, he was a bad player. That is obvious but should be stated, he got beat more often than a dusty rug in the heart of Egypt. He was beaten so often by opposing receivers that Child Protective Services had to ask Mike Pettine what was going on with his home life. He got beat so many times, that the Washington Generals tried to sue him for infringing on their copyright.
The other major reason he’s on this list is that a position player drafted in the first round and only lasting two years in earnest in the NFL is nearly unheard of. At least when it’s not due to an injury. It’s one thing for a quarterback to flame out after a few years, but a corner? You can usually hang on in the NFL or at least in pro football for a decade by just being a body who’s fast enough.
Lastly, it’s because he was apparently lazy.
That’s it, that’s your trio of suck.