The Cleveland Browns finally got it right by selecting Myles Garrett first overall and signing him to a well deserved extension.
First round picks have not gone well in Cleveland, this is not a secret to anyone. That is why Myles Garrett not only being really good matters, but the Browns actually signing him to a contract extension is huge. Field Yates pointed out that Myles Garrett is the first player selected by the Browns in Round 1 to be signed to a second contract in a long time.
There is one word for this. Pathetic. That’s what the Browns haven been for the majority of their return in 1999. Missed pick after missed pick plagued a franchise that continued to bury itself in bad selections. The players selected during the timeframe mentioned by Yates is a who’s who of players who did not live up to their first round status.
- 2011: Phil Taylor 21st overall
- 2012: Trent Richardson 3rd and Brandon Weeden 22nd overall
- 2013: Barkevious Mingo 6th overall
- 2014: Justin Giblert 8th and Johnny Manziel 22nd overall
- 2015: Danny Shelton 12th and Cameron Erving 19th overall
- 2016: Corey Coleman 15th overall
Garrett came to the Browns with two other players in 2017, Jabrill Peppers and David Njoku. Peppers is now with the Giants and Njoku seems unlikely to receive a second contract in Cleveland barring a turn of events that would be quite shocking.
There is one question that must be asked. Will the signing of Myles Garrett be the first of many in Cleveland that helps turnaround the franchise or will he be just another player lost in the mix of failed first round picks in Cleveland like Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, and Joe Haden?
