Leading up to the NFL Draft, I’m going to look back at the previous picks of the Browns based on what picks they currently hold in the 2017 Draft.
Today we’ll look at the 65th pick, the Browns have held this pick five times previously.
1950-RB Don Phelps, Kentucky
Phelps spent three seasons with the Browns and was apart of their first draft class as a member of the National Football League. A member of the 1950 NFL Championship team, he was used primarily a return man but had 198 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the running game which was used mostly by Hall of Fame fullback Marion Motley.
Phelps’ production declined in his other two seasons with the Browns, rushing for only 65 yards in 1951 and only playing in one game in 1952. He never played in another NFL game after that.
1976-WR Dave Logan, Colorado
A third round pick in the 1976 Draft, Logan established himself in Cleveland as a reliable target at the wide receiver position.
For eight seasons in Cleveland, Logan became one of the top receivers in franchise history. He was apart of the 1980 “Kardiac Kids” team and was the go to target along with tight end Ozzie Newsome for NFL MVP Brian Sipe.
In 1979, Logan had 59 catches for 982 yards and seven touchdowns. He followed that up in 1980 with 51 catches for 822 yards and four touchdowns, his two best seasons as a member of the Browns.
He spent one season with Denver after leaving the Browns after the 1984 season.
He ranks 15th in franchise history for catches and 8th in receiving yards.
Career Stats
119 games (88 starts)
263 catches
4,250 receiving yards
24 touchdowns
1992-DT Bill Johnson, Michigan State
A third round pick under Bill Belichick, Johnson was used sparingly during his three years with the Cleveland Browns. He only started in 15 of the 40 games he played in with Cleveland.
His best season in Cleveland came in his last during the 1994 season where he had 43 total tackles and a sack.
Johnson spent time with Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Philadelphia before retiring after the 1999 season.
Career Stats
99 games (52 starts)
249 total tackles
12.5 sacks
1 forced fumble
4 fumble recoveries
2001-RB James Jackson, Miami (FL)
Rushing for almost 3,000 yards during his time with the Miami Hurricanes, Jackson was a target of Browns head coach Butch Davis in the 2001 Draft, obviously because Davis was the head coach of the Hurricanes during Jackson’s time in Miami.
Jackson rushed for 554 yards and two touchdowns his rookie season but averaged 2.8 yards per carry. He never got much more playing time after the 2001 season after the Browns drafted William Green in the first round in 2002.
Jackson started six games in 2003 but only rushed for 382 yards in 12 games that season. He played only four games in 2004 before the Browns released him. He spent time in Green Bay and Arizona before leaving football after the 2005 season
Career Stats
52 games (16 starts)
325 carries
1,082 rushing yards
3.3 yards per carry
5 touchdowns
2016-DE Carl Nassib, Penn State
The jury is still out on Nassib as a player but coming out of Penn State, there was a lot to like about him. An All American who took home numerous awards including the Lombardi Award for the nation’s best linebacker or lineman and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He also set the Penn State single season record with 15.5 sacks in a single season.
After showing impact in the preseason, Nassib struggled as a rookie and only getting 2.5 sacks in 14 games. He missed the two games with a broken hand but played during the season with a club on his hand.
With it likely that the Browns will select Myles Garrett with the first overall pick and to add that there’s a new defensive coordinator in Gregg Williams, it’s unknown what Nassib’s role will be with the Browns going forward.
