Ranking every Cleveland Browns first round draft pick since 1999

25. DT Phil Taylor, 2011  – 21st Overall

Phil Taylor had so much potential. His rookie year was solid, if not good. He racked up 59 tackles, four sacks, and seven tackles for a loss in his first year as a pro. Things were looking good, but injuries sidelined the young player, and despite his high upside as a rookie, Taylor was never able to rebound as a full-time NFL starter.

Pectoral and ankle issues caused him to miss most of his second year, and the mounting injuries hampered his third year with the team. Then in 2014, after struggling, he suffered yet another injury, this time to his knee. The constant damage to his body-mounted, as it always does and caused him to never play another down of football again.

Here’s how talented Taylor was despite the injuries. He got signed by Denver and hurt his knee again. Yet, despite four major injuries, three of which were to his legs, the Washington Commanders still signed him to be their starting nose tackle in 2016, despite Taylor not having played for nearly two full seasons.

Injuries would sideline him yet again and despite the hope that he’d eventually get on the field again, he ended up retiring in 2019. Taylor had all the potential in the world, but he’s proof that injuries are nothing to take lightly.