The good news: The Cleveland Browns picked up an extra third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. That’s the bounty in return from the Houston Texans for running back Duke Johnson.
The bad news: The history of the acquired draft slot, No. 97 overall, is littered with bad decisions and players who couldn’t play in the NFL.
It’s not all players taken at No. 97, to be fair. A select few of them have turned out to be good NFL players.
Lamar Miller (2012 – Miami) topped 1,000 yards rushing twice in four seasons with the Dolphins and three with the Texans. He was also one of the best pass-catching RBs of the last decade. Miller earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2018 but missed 2019 with a torn ACL.
Ray McDonald (2007 – San Francisco) played eight seasons and was a full-time starter at defensive tackle for the 49ers in their impressive run from 2010-2013.
Domonique Foxworth (2005 – Denver) was a good starting defensive back on several playoff teams in his career.
Anthony Henry (2001 – Cleveland) led the NFL in INTs as a rookie and was a starter at CB for most of his nine seasons, four of those with the Browns.
John Welbourn (1999 – Philadelphia) started at guard for the Eagles for four solid years, then moved to Kansas City and was an adequate starter when healthy for another four seasons.
In the last 20 years, those are the cream of the No. 97 crop. Notice none of those are recent picks, either.
The last 10 players taken at 97:
2019: Bobby Evans, OT to the Rams. Too soon.
2018: Mason Cole, OC to the Cardinals. Overmatched as a rookie starter, now demoted to backup.
2017: Cordrea Tankersley, CB to the Dolphins. Performed okay as a rookie but played in just six games the last two seasons after a devastating knee injury.
2016: Rees Odhiambo, OT to the Seahawks. Out of the NFL after both the Seahawks and Cardinals gave up on him quickly.
2015: Geneo Grissom, LB to the Patriots. Logged 14 career tackles in three seasons and is now out of the NFL.
2014: Dri Archer, RB to the Steelers. The tiny Kent State speedster was out of the league after two seasons of sparsely playing in Pittsburgh.
2013: Zaviar Gooden, LB to the Titans. Started two games in three seasons before three NFL teams cut him in less than a year.
2012: Lamar Miller, see above
2011: Sione Fua, DT to the Panthers. Started 11 games as a rookie but barely played over three more seasons, the final of which was with the 2014 Browns. Bet you didn’t remember him…
2010: Rennie Curran, LB to the Titans. The flyweight LB had seven tackles in nine games as a rookie and never made another NFL roster.
If Browns GM Andrew Berry can salvage a player who lasts beyond 2021 in Cleveland with the pick, he’s done well for the recent value at No. 97 overall. It behooves him to package the allure of a third-round pick, a coveted (by some) compensatory pick no less, to move up and select from a higher spot.