Browns Look Like Geniuses in Light of Stunning Plight of 2017 NFL Draft's Top Picks
By Nick Porr
The 2017 NFL Draft may go down as one of the strangest classes in history. With the league's premier joke of a franchise, the Cleveland Browns, drafting first overall, many would expect them to have selected the worst bust of all. Yet entering the 2020 season, the Browns look like they may have done the best near the top of the Draft.
With the No. 1 pick in the 2017 Draft, the Brown selected defensive end Myles Garrett. So far, Garrett has had one Pro Bowl selection in his three seasons, and is the only top-five pick to have his fifth-year option picked up.
2017 draft class fifth-year options for top 5 picks:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 2, 2020
1. Browns DE Myles Garrett: ✅
2. Bears QB Mitch Trubisky: ❌
3. 49ers DL Solomon Thomas: ❌
4. Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette: ❌
5. Titans WR Corey Davis: ❌
It’s hard to find a sure thing in the draft.
Garrett's career has been far from perfect, but he has a much better track record than the players drafted after him. The No. 2 pick, Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, has thrown 29 interceptions in three seasons and could possibly lose his job to Nick Foles this year.
Solomon Thomas started only three games for the San Francisco 49ers last season, Leonard Fournette is likely already on his way out of Florida, and wide receiver Corey Davis has failed to carve out a substantial roll in the Titans receiving corps.
Garrett may be the only surefire success at the top of the class, but looking a little further down, there were some studs drafted in 2017. The Kansas City Chiefs took 2018 MVP Patrick Mahomes with the No. 10 pick, and the Houston Texans selected Deshaun Watson with the No.12 pick.
Garrett is clearly the best out of a dismal first five picks, but there was a lot of talent drafted much later on. It just goes to show that being drafted early doesn't always confirm success.