Few teams’ first-round NFL Draft pick histories have been more well-documented than the Cleveland Browns in the modern era. Whether successes or failures, the Browns’ selections always draw attention, as the NFL patiently waits for Cleveland to become a football mainstay once again. Here’s a look at the Browns’ performance in Round 1 over the years.

Cleveland Browns First-Round Draft Picks Throughout History

Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft cycle, the Browns’ first-round NFL Draft pick history only contained five Hall of Fame selections, the most notable among them being the late Jim Brown. In the 2023 Hall of Fame class, however, a sixth player was added: Offensive tackle Joe Thomas.

Although the Browns sustained little to no team success during Thomas’ career, he was an iron man who started all 16 games for 10 years straight from 2007 to 2016. A dominant technician and athlete all in one, Thomas earned 10 Pro Bowl and six All-Pro bids, and rightfully gained his golden jacket.

In the most recent decade, Myles Garrett — who was Cleveland’s first overall selection in 2017 — has the best chance of eventually becoming a Hall of Famer. In six years, he already has two All-Pro and four Pro Bowl bids, with 74.5 sacks over that span.

2023

• Traded the 12th pick to the Houston Texans

2022

• Traded the 13th pick to the Houston Texans

2021

• Greg Newsome II | Pick 26
  CB, Northwestern

2020

• Jedrick Wills Jr. | Pick 10
  OT, Alabama

2019

• Traded the 17th pick to the New York Giants

2018

• Baker Mayfield | Pick 1
  QB, Oklahoma
• Denzel Ward | Pick 4
  CB Ohio State

2017

• Myles Garrett | Pick 1
  DE, Texas A&M
  
• Jabrill Peppers | Pick 25
  S, Michigan
• David Njoku | Pick 29
  TE, Miami (FL)

2016

• Corey Coleman | Pick 15
  WR, Baylor
  

2015

• Danny Shelton | Pick 12
  DT, Washington
  
• Cameron Erving | Pick 19
  C, Florida State
  

2014

• Justin Gilbert | Pick 8
  CB, Oklahoma State
  
• Johnny Manziel | Pick 22
  QB, Texas A&M
  

2013

• Barkevious Mingo | Pick 6
  OLB, LSU
  

2012

• Trent Richardson | Pick 3
  RB, Alabama
  
• Brandon Weeden | Pick 22
  QB, Oklahoma State
  

2011

• Phil Taylor | Pick 21
  DT, Baylor
  

2010

• Joe Haden | Pick 7
  CB, Florida
  

2009

• Alex Mack | Pick 21
  C, California
  

2008

• Traded the 22nd pick to the Dallas Cowboys

2007

• Joe Thomas* | Pick 3
  OT, Wisconsin
  
• Brady Quinn | Pick 22
  QB, Notre Dame
  

2006

• Kamerion Wimbley | Pick 13
  LB, Florida State
  

2005

• Braylon Edwards | Pick 3
  WR, Michigan
  

2004

• Kellen Winslow II | Pick 6
  TE, Miami (FL)
  

2003

• Jeff Faine | Pick 21
  C, Notre Dame
  

2002

• William Green | Pick 16
  RB, Boston College
  

2001

• Gerard Warren | Pick 3
  DT, Florida
  

2000

• Courtney Brown | Pick 1
  DE, Penn State
  

1999

• Tim Couch | Pick 1
  QB, Kentucky
  

1996-1998

• No team in Cleveland from 1996-1998

1995

• Craig Powell | Pick 30
  LB, Ohio State
  

1994

• Antonio Langham | Pick 9
  CB, Alabama
  
• Derrick Alexander | Pick 29
  WR, Michigan
  

1993

• Steve Everitt | Pick 14
  C, Michigan
  

1992

• Tommy Vardell | Pick 9
  FB, Stanford
  

1991

• Eric Turner | Pick 2
  DB, UCLA
  

1990

• Traded the 18th pick to the Green Bay Packers

1989

• Eric Metcalf | Pick 13
  RB/WR, Texas
  

1988

• Clifford Charlton | Pick 21
  LB, Florida
  

1987

• Mike Junkin | Pick 5
  LB, Duke
  

1986

• Traded the 20th pick to the Buffalo Bills

1985

• Traded the seventh pick to the Green Bay Packers

1984

• Don Rogers | Pick 18
  S, UCLA
  

1983

• Traded the 14th pick to the Buffalo Bills

1982

• Chip Banks | Pick 3
  LB, USC
  

1981

• Hanford Dixon | Pick 22
  CB, Southern Miss
  

1980

• Charles White | Pick 27
  RB, USC
  

1979

• Willis Adams | Pick 20
  WR, Houston
  

1978

• Clay Matthews | Pick 12
  LB, USC
  
• Ozzie Newsome* | Pick 23
  TE, Alabama
  

1977

• Robert Jackson | Pick 17
  LB, Texas A&M
  

1976

• Mike Pruitt | Pick 7
  FB, Purdue
  

1975

• Mack Mitchell | Pick 5
  DL, Houston
  

1974

• Traded the 15th pick to the San Diego Chargers

1973

• Steven Holden | Pick 16
  WR, Arizona State
• Pete Adams | Pick 22
  G, USC

1972

• Thom Darden | Pick 18
  DB, Michigan
  

1971

• Clarence Scott | Pick 14
  DB, Kansas
  

1970

• Mike Phipps | Pick 3
  QB, Purdue
  
• Bob McKay | Pick 21
  OT, Texas
  

1969

• Ron Johnson | Pick 20
  RB, Michigan
  

1968

• Marvin Upshaw | Pick 21
  DL, Trinity
  

1967

• Bob Matheson | Pick 18
  LB, Duke
  

1966

• Milt Morin | Pick 14
  TE, Massachusetts
  

1965

• Traded the 13th pick to the San Francisco 49ers

1964

• Paul Warfield* | Pick 11
  WR, Ohio State
  

1963

• Tom Hutchinson | Pick 9
  WR, Kentucky
  

1962

• Gary Collins | Pick 4
  WR/P, Maryland
  
• Leroy Jackson | Pick 11
  RB, Western Illinois
  

1961

• Bobby Crespino | Pick 10
  TE, Mississippi
  

1960

• Jim Houston | Pick 8
  DE/LB, Ohio State
  

1959

• Rich Kreitling | Pick 11
  WR, Illinois
  

1958

• Jim Shofner | Pick 13
  DB, TCU
  

1957

• Jim Brown* | Pick 6
  FB, Syracuse

1956

• Preston Carpenter | Pick 13
  E/RB/TE, Arkansas
  

1955

• Kurt Burris | Pick 13
  C, Oklahoma
  

1954

• Bobby Garrett | Pick 1
  QB, Stanford
  
• John Bauer | Pick 12
  G/OT, Illinois
  

1953

• Doug Atkins* | Pick 11
  DE, Tennessee
  

1952

• Bert Rechichar | Pick 10
  DB/K, Tennessee
  
• Harry Agganis | Pick 12
  QB, Boston
  

1951

• Kenny Konz | Pick 14
  DB, LSU
  

1950

• Ken Carpenter | Pick 13
  RB, Oregon State
  

*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame