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The funny thing about the Browns, if you think about it, is that almost all of their best players were not part of this franchise. Ozzie Newsome was an executive for the organization that moved to Baltimore in 1996 and became the Ravens. Can he really be one of the best Cleveland Browns to have ever played?
That's like saying Johnny Unitas is the best quarterback to ever have played for the Baltimore Ravens or that Warren Moon is the Houston Texans' best quarterback in history. In a unique settlement, the city of Cleveland got to keep the name, records, and legacy of the team that had played on Lake Erie for 49 years and won four NFL championships before leaving town in 1996.
So who were the best Browns players going back to 1946, when the Browns began as one of the eight teams to play in the All-American Football Conference? I am considering career production, All-Pro selections, approximate value-added, and championships. But ultimately, I'm making my own judgments of how I weigh everything.
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1. Jim Brown
It is hard to think of a player who was more dominant in his sport than Jim Brown was. In nine seasons, Brown led the NFL in rushing yards nine times, scrimmage yards six times, total touchdowns five times, and yards per carry twice. And he would have added even more to the record books if he didn't retire at the young age of 29 after team owner Art Modell threatened to fine him for missing camp to film movies. So Modell can be blamed for moving the team out of Cleveland and Brown out of football early.
2. Ozzie Newsome
The long-time Baltimore Ravens general manager had a Hall of Fame career as a tight end for the Cleveland Browns. He was the top target of Brian Sipe during the Kardiac Kids' run, leading the team in receiving five times and going for over 1,000 receiving yards twice. He would have finished as the TE1 if fantasy football were a thing in 1979, and he had five other hypothetical top-five TE seasons.
3. Joe Thomas
Quarterbacks and coaches came and went during Joe Thomas' decade-long career. However, his presence as an impassable blocker protecting the line was a constant. The 10-time Pro Bowler played every single snap for 10,363 plays until an injury put an end to his career in 2017. He also allowed 30 sacks in his career.
4. Otto Graham
If quarterbacks are evaluated by winning championships then there aren't many better than Otto Graham. In 10 seasons in the AAFC and NFL, he won seven titles (including three NFL championships) and played in 10. He led the league in completion percentage four times, yardage five times, touchdown passes three times, and passer rating five times.
5. Lou Groza
It seems ridiculous to think of it today, but Lou "The Toe" Groza played both offensive tackle and kicker. That's something you won't see from Rodrigo Blankenship. But more importantly, he was hitting 40 and 50-yard field goals before many others would even try. His 52-yard field goal in the 1951 championship held the record for the longest kick for 42 years. A career 54.9% field goal percentage doesn't look so good in the modern NFL, but he led the league in field goal percentage five times and in total field goals made six times.
6. Dick Schafrath
Considered one of the Browns' best left tackles, Dick Schafrath protected the likes of Milt Plum and Frank Ryan and opened holes for Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly. It helps an offense when it has an elite 270-pounder protecting its quarterback and clearing holes for its running backs. Schafrath bulked up in his rookie season from 220 pounds.
7. Clay Matthews
The Browns' all-time tackle leader, Clay Matthews, anchored the 1980s Browns' defenses and kept playing productively until the age of 40 (including three late seasons with the Falcons). He recorded triple-digit tackles eight times, led the league in tackles four times, and in forced fumbles once. He's number two on the Browns' all-time list for sacks with 62.0, behind only the next player on this list.
8. Myles Garrett
Myles Garrett is the only active player to make this list. He's played just six seasons but he already leads the team's record book with 74.5 career sacks. Garrett has four Pro Bowl appearances, two first-team All-Pro selections, and two second-team selections. If you extend it over his career, Garrett could rise on this list.
9. Leroy Kelly
Jim Brown's replacement wasn't half-bad. LeRoy Kelly ran for over 1,000 yards three times, leading the league in rushing twice, and scored double-digit touchdowns four times. He also led the league in rushing touchdowns three times.
10. Paul Warfield
Warfield did what a lot of running backs might do in the future: he changed his position to wide receiver upon going pro. In his first six seasons in the NFL, he played for the Browns and went for over 700 yards five times and over 1,000 yards once. He continued playing well for five seasons in Miami before returning to Cleveland for the final two seasons of his career.
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