Who is the best player drafted by the Cleveland Browns since 1999?

Who is the best player drafted by the Cleveland Browns since 1999?

The Cleveland Browns have finished the selection process of the next batch of young hopefuls. An estimated 16 rookies will join the Cleveland Browns heading into rookie camp with the idea that they may not only make the team but become the next great Browns player. While it’s no surprise to anyone to hear the Browns have struggled at drafting since returning in 1999, they haven’t missed completely.

They’ve found some real gems along the way. Guys like Kevin Johnson, Joe Haden, Denzel Ward, T.J. Ward, and others have popped up as good-to-great players for the franchise. Not all of them are destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but some of them may make it into the Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor.

When it comes to the standards upon which all Browns’ players are judged, three names come to mind. Myles Garrett, Nick Chubb, and Joe Thomas. All three have ties to one another. Thomas’ last year was in Garrett’s first year and of course, Garrett and Chubb are currently teammates. It feels odd that the three Browns’ with the best shot of going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame are all modern players, but hey, what can you do?

While Thomas is already inducted, it’s still fair to ask who among the three is the best. So we’re going to discuss that.

What Cleveland Browns’ draft pick has turned into the best player?

The case for Myles Garrett is pretty obvious. He’s been the best defensive player on the team since 2018 and has a slew of Pro Bowls, All-Pros, and franchise sack records to his name. His knock against him is his injuries, the suspension, and his lack of impact against the offense when they run the ball at him.

For Joe Thomas, the case is even stronger. Outside of 2017, the year he suffered a major injury and ended up missing the last 11 games of the year, he was a Pro Bowler every year. That means for the first 10 seasons of his career, he was selected to the Pro Bowl. He also achieved eight All-Pro selections as well and is a bonafide first-ballot Hall of Famer. Many consider him the best at his position in the history of the game.

Then, there’s Nick Chubb. Thomas and Garrett have taken on some strong shadows. Many consider Lou Groza, Gene Hickerson, or Frank Gatski as the best offensive linemen in Browns’ history before Thomas arrived, but he’s since surpassed them. Likewise, Garrett also toppled his former shadow in Clay Matthews.

Both Garrett and Thomas can say they’re no longer in the shadows of any former player that played for the Browns. Not the case for Chubb, who still has to topple Jim Brown. Chubb is currently fourth all-time in rushing, and assuming Kevin Stefanski doesn’t just abandon the running game, Chubb should leap into second all-time in Cleveland’s history.

But he has a long way to go before he’s first. That said, he was also a second-round pick and has the same rate of excellence as Brown, both posting a career yards-per-carry of 5.2. Both Thomas and Garrett were taken in the first three picks of their respective drafts. So Chubb’s emergence is more impressive as it wasn’t as expected.

So who’s the “Top Dawg”?

You can make a case for any one of them, but due to Thomas’ string of Pro Bowls, eight All-Pro selections, and his first-ballot Hall of Fame worthiness, it’s pretty clear that Thomas is the guy. At least for now.

That’s my opinion on the topic, but who do you think is the best player the Browns have drafted since 1999?