Some tough decision on this version of the Browns roster given the team’s recent history
If you’ve followed the Cleveland Browns since before The Betrayal of Art Modell and The Return in 1999, you know why the team that has taken the field since has been so tough to watch. The Browns were mostly a solid team in the ‘80s and ‘90s and downright dominant in the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s.
The return to glory may not be what it was when football was first becoming a national game, but Cleveland fans are begging for a glimpse of it.
ESPN just put out their All Quarter Century team for the whole of the NFL, which included two Browns players. Given that the team returned in 1999, our All Quarter Century team will include that return season as well. While Cleveland’s team hasn’t had a ton of success since returning, there are bound to be some arguments about who should make the 25 starters for this quarter century plus one.
For the sake of tiebreakers and having a good starting point, we used Pro Football Reference’s Career Approximate Value data point. Some of the decisions were very easy (left tackle, for example) while others led to a bit of a struggle (right tackle, for sure and quarterback, to some extent).
Browns All Quarter Century Plus One team
Offense
- QB Baker Mayfield
- RB Nick Chubb
- FB Lawrence Vickers
- WR Josh Gordon – Talent cannot be denied despite limited time on the field
- WR Dennis Northcutt
- TE David Njoku
- LT Joe Thomas
- LG Joel Bitonio
- C Alex Mack
- RG Wyatt Teller
- RT Ryan Tucker
Defense
- DE Myles Garrett
- DT Larry Ogunjobi
- DT Gerard Warren
- DE Orpheus Roye
- LB D’Qwell Jackson
- LB Andra Davis – Was close to putting Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah here
- CB Denzel Ward
- CB Joe Haden
- CB Daylon McCutcheon
- FS Earl Little
- SS T.J. Ward
Special Teams
- K Phil Dawson
- P Chris Gardocki
- LS Charley Hughlett
We’ve all had favorite Browns over the last Quarter Century, which one did we omit from the team since they returned to Cleveland in 1999?
Share your thoughts in the comment section below