Sports

The Cleveland Browns' 5 Worst Draft Picks in the Last 10 Years

By HC Green Lindys Sports

Updated May 29, 2026 9:09 AM

Drafting is an inexact science. Even the best of the best miss for any number of reasons-injuries, poor scheme fit, off-the-field issues, lack of development, and so on. With the 2026 NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, things should be quiet on the personnel side until training camps open in July.

With that in mind, it seems like the perfect time to go back over the last 10 drafts to identify picks which didn't pan out for each of the 32 clubs. Before we begin, let's set the ground rules: We're starting with the 2016 draft, so no players from the 2026 draft are eligible.

Now that we've established the parameters, here are the Cleveland Browns' five worst draft picks of the past decade:

Dishonorable Mentions

QB DeShone Kizer (52nd Overall, 2017)
OL Shon Coleman (76th Overall, 2017)
DE Chad Thomas (67th Overall, 2018)
LB Jacob Phillips (97th Overall, 2020)
DB Greg Newsome (26th Overall, 2021)
WR David Bell (99th Overall, 2022)
DL Siaki Ika (98th Overall, 2023)

5) WR Anthony Schwartz, 91st Overall (2021)

A glance at the lengthy dishonorable mentions tells you there was no shortage of worthy candidates for the last spot on this list, but Schwartz gets the nod. He caught 10 passes as a rookie, four in Year 2, and never catch another NFL pass after 2022. Making matters worse, the second wideout selected after Schwartz was Amon-Ra St. Brown.

4) DB Greedy Williams, 46th Overall (2019)

Williams carried a high profile after starring at LSU, and he started 12 games as a rookie. He missed all of 2020 with a shoulder injury, however, and was buried on the depth chart by the time his rookie contract expired. He never played another down in the NFL and was last seen being cut by San Antonio in the fledgling UFL.

3) OL Jedrick Wills Jr., 10th Overall (2020)

Wills regressed after a decent rookie season. Injuries played a role, limiting him to 12 starts during his final two years with Cleveland, and he sat out last season recovering. He's attempting a comeback with Chicago, but no matter how that turns out, suffice it to say, he didn't deliver what Cleveland hoped for when they picked him…three spots ahead of perennial Pro Bowl selection Tristan Wirfs.

arena photography — Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

2) QB Baker Mayfield, 1st Overall (2018)

While you can't fault the Browns for taking Myles Garrett first overall in 2017, the fact remains that Patrick Mahomes went nine spots later. Cleveland was back atop the draft in 2018, when they selected Mayfield. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson went later in Round 1. Mayfield was uneven for Cleveland before eventually reviving his career with the Bucs. From the Browns' perspective, however, they ultimately passed on three future MVPs in those two drafts-not to mention the assets they burned to acquire Deshaun Watson.

1) WR Corey Coleman, 15th Overall (2016)

Apart from Tyreek Hill and Michael Thomas, the 2016 draft was a mostly miserable one for receivers. No one invested a higher pick at the position than the Browns, which made Coleman the first wideout off the board. Injuries slowed his development, and he had issues with drops. He's best remembered for demanding to be traded while on HBO's Hard Knocks. The Browns obliged, dealing him to Buffalo for a seventh-round pick in 2018.

This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 9:00 AM.