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3 Biggest Cleveland Browns Draft Steals of the Last Decade

By Jason Schandl

The Browns' biggest NFL Draft steals of the past decade, including Joe Schobert.
The Browns' biggest NFL Draft steals of the past decade, including Joe Schobert. / Jason Miller/Getty Images
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The Cleveland Browns hold seven picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, and after failing to live up to expectations last year, they're going to need to make the most of these selections.

While they haven't always fielded the most competitive teams over the last 10 years, they've had plenty of chances to find success is the draft, hitting on a few gems in the process.

With that in mind, let's look back at the Browns' biggest NFL Draft steals of the last decade.

3. Christian Kirksey, 2014 (No. 71 Overall)

Christian Kirksey during a 2019 game against the Jets.
Christian Kirksey during a 2019 game against the Jets. / Al Pereira/Getty Images

Selected in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Christian Kirksey made an early impact in Cleveland, starting eight games in his rookie season. He didn't take over as a full-time starter until 2016, but he then started all 16 games in two consecutive seasons, racking up a combined 286 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 8 passes defended between 2016 and 2017. He spent the last two seasons banged up, though, and signed with the Green Bay Packers this offseason.

2. Joe Schobert, 2016 (No. 99 Overall)

Joe Schobert during a 2019 game against the Steelers.
Joe Schobert during a 2019 game against the Steelers. / Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Another linebacker that just signed elsewhere, Joe Schobert turned in an excellent four seasons on his rookie deal in Cleveland. Schobert piled up 408 tackles across four seasons (49 starts), and in 2019 he made some real strides in coverage, with career-best marks in both interceptions (4) and pass defenses (9). Cleveland may not get to continue reaping the benefits of stealing Schobert in the draft, but they have to feel good about the scouting process that led to landing Schobert in the fourth round.

1. Buster Skrine, 2011 (No. 137 Overall)

Buster Skrine during his time with the Browns.
Buster Skrine during his time with the Browns. / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

It's been a while since Buster Skrine last played for the Browns (2014), but he's put together a solid NFL career, starting a total of 89 games for three teams, showing the flexibility to play all over the secondary. Skrine has never really emerged as a star player, but getting a long-time NFL starter with a fifth-round draft pick is undeniably a big hit.

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Jason Schandl is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Jason Schandl also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username Jaymun. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.