3 Draft Picks the Browns Gave up on Too Early

The Cleveland Browns are a uniquely bad drafting franchise. Not only do a large chunk of their picks fail to pan out, but an even greater percentage of picks will flame out in Cleveland, only to show that they can play elsewhere. These three players look destined for the ever-expanding graveyard of failed Browns draft picks alongside Justin Gilbert, Brandon Weeden and Johnny Manziel, but they proved outside of Ohio that they have a lot to give at the pro level.

3. RB Duke Johnson

Who would have thought the all-time leading rusher in the history of Miami football could play a little bit? Johnson was used almost exclusively as a pass-catching back in Cleveland before demanding a trade to a place that would use him as a runner. Houston obliged, and Johnson put up career-highs in rushing yards while still compiling 410 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver. He and David Johnson will be a feared tandem in 2020.

2. DT Danny Shelton

Shelton is the dictionary definition of a space-eating nose tackle, and his lack of pass rushing production coupled with a change in defensive scheme prompted the Patriots to take him off of Cleveland's hands. Shelton was a quality lineman on a Super Bowl winning team before emerging as one of the best interior lineman in football at stopping the run last season. Shelton set career bests in sacks with three and tackles with 61. Cleveland, however, used the third-round pick they acquired as part of the trade package for Odell Beckham. Win-win, I guess.

1. OT Mitchell Schwartz

Schwartz was a solid right tackle for the Browns, but not someone that an organization would be salivating over. With the Chiefs, however, he became arguably the best right tackle in all of football. Schwartz was an immovable object on a Chiefs offensive line that kept Patrick Mahomes upright and helped Kansas City win their first championship in five decades. Oh, and he's better than Chris Hubbard for Browns fans keeping score at home.