NFL Draft: 3 Teams Odell Beckham Jr. Made Regret Passing On Him
By Bob Evans
May 9, 2014; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns first round draft picks Justin Gilbert (Oklahoma State) and Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) are introduced to the media with head coach Mike Pettine (left) and general Manager Ray Farmer (left) at the Cleveland Browns Headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
No. 1: Cleveland Browns
Finally, we come to the Cleveland Browns. Yes, the same Cleveland Browns that just spent $9 million guaranteed over two seasons on veteran Dwayne Bowe, who has been inactive for two of the team’s first three games and took just eight snaps in the other game.
See, it seems as if no other organization can screw up the NFL Draft like the Cleveland Browns—and the 2014 NFL Draft wasn’t much different. Locked and loaded with two picks in the first round (Nos. 4 and 26), it seemed pretty apparent to everyone that first-year general manager Ray Farmer would look to address the quarterback and wide receiver positions in the first round.
Sitting at No. 4 before the draft, the Browns were pretty much guaranteed one of three players who fit either of those descriptions there. Those players were quarterback Blake Bortles, and receivers Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans. Bortles ended up being selected with the pick before the Browns at No. 3, which meant they had any receiver of their choosing. Well, so Browns fans thought.
Instead, Farmer shipped the pick off to the Buffalo Bills for the No. 9 pick in 2014, a fourth-round pick in 2014 and a first-round pick in 2015. Not a bad haul, especially considering the Browns could still address those two positions with either Evans, Teddy Bridgewater (rumored to be falling out of the Top 10 at the time) or Beckham Jr.
Unfortunately for Browns fans, Evans went No. 7 to Tampa Bay and suddenly the Browns were trading up from No. 9 to No. 8 in a swap with the Minnesota Vikings. Everyone in the room thought it was for Beckham Jr. or Bridgewater, but as doomed Browns fans know—they selected cornerback Justin Gilbert.
The addition of Gilbert in the Top 10 was puzzling. With their star wide receiver, Josh Gordon, facing yet another suspension they knew about prior to the day, how a team with Brian Hoyer as their potential starting quarterback at the time passed on receiver at that position is mind-boggling to this day. The Browns would, as the world knows, round of the first round by passing on Bridgewater yet again and trading up to No. 22 for Johnny Manziel.
Here the organization sits in 2015, and they (again) passed on drafting a wide receiver until the fourth round to take Vince Mayle—who they cut before the season started. For a general manager who was quoted asking a room full of media members to name the last receiver to lead his team to the Super Bowl, and also quoted as saying receivers only impact seven or eight plays a game, I bet he is kicking himself for passing on the mega-talent that is Beckham Jr.
Meanwhile, New York Giants fans all over the world (and Manning) have probably been sending secret thank you cards to the Browns organization for being inept. Well played Mr. Farmer, well played.
Next: Bonus: Which Team Should Have Traded Up