Ranking every Cleveland Browns first round draft pick since 1999

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PITTSBURGH – SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Tim Couch #2 of the Cleveland Browns points during the game on September 29, 2002 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers kicked an overtime field goal, thus winning the game, 16-13. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

7. QB Tim Couch, 1999 – 1st Overall

I know this might upset some fans but team performance matters. If the quarterback is the most important position on the team, then the 20021 and 2002 seasons are mostly on Tim Couch. Those two seasons were two of the best for a long time with this franchise and yes, that may mean I’m overvaluing Couch, but I firmly believe he was a good player. A good player battling a bad offense and injuries.

Couch went 15-15 over those two seasons and led the Browns to the playoffs in 2002 for the first time since coming back in 1999. A feat that would take 18 years to duplicate. While Couch doesn’t have the best stats, he has so many good moments with the Browns. The New Orlean Saints and Jacksonville Jaguar games where he threw two, game-winning, Hail Mary passes. The latter of which kept the Browns in the playoff hunt.

And was absolutely dropped by Quincy Morgan; thank goodness the refs didn’t see that.

Couch was on a team with no real help, and that hurt him a lot. The offensive line was bad, the play-makers if you can even call them that, were at best average guys being asked to play above their station.

I love Kevin Johnson, but he was a slot receiver being shoe-horned into a number-one receiver role. And that was Couch’s best play-maker for his entire run in Cleveland. If he had better talent and a better offensive line, who knows what Couch could’ve done.

Plus he married Playmate Heather Kozar. The man is blessed.

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