2010-2019 was a miserable decade for the Cleveland Browns. 117 losses, 17 starting quarterbacks and zero winning seasons. Eric Mangini didn’t want to coach. Hue Jackson wanted to but did an atrocious job. Peyton Hillis made the Madden Curse that much more real. There were some exceptions to the gloom of this franchise though. Let’s take a look at the 2010s Browns All-Decade Team.
Cleveland Browns All-Decade Team: Defense
Cleveland Browns All-Decade Team 2010-19: Offense
Quarterback: Baker Mayfield
The hype around Baker Mayfield began long before he was drafted. Mayfield’s rookie season was one for the books – he lived up to the hype. He was fiery and did everything right. Mayfield all but saved the Browns from being a total failure again in 2018, leading multiple drives and earning a quarterback rating of 86. He went from star to slump in 2019. It’s too soon to worry though – he clearly has not reached his ceiling yet.
Running Back: Nick Chubb
Nick Chubb ran the fastest touchdown run in 2019, hitting 21.95 at the peak of his run. His speed is something his teammates are used to, but he leaves us all spellbound in his dust. He has true break-away speed. Analysts call him a power back – it takes more than one guy to bring him down. That combined with speed means he’s going to be an elite running back for quite some time.
Wide Receiver: Travis Benjamin
Travis Benjamin was an offensive powerhouse in 2015. He made a formidable impact in Weeks 1 and 2 that season. In those two weeks, he caught 6 of 7 pass targets, returned 16 punts and made five touchdowns. All in all, in those two weeks, he brought his receiving yards total to 204, and all-purpose yards to 368. He almost single-handedly carried the Browns to their Week 2 victory – 3 of 4 touchdowns belonged to Benjamin.
Wide Receiver: Jarvis Landry
His performance has been steady throughout his time in Cleveland. Jarvis Landry is productive and provides stability to the wide receiver room, something that the Browns needed desperately. He has a skillset that is perfect for the slot and making plays in the intermediate parts of the field.
Wide Receiver/Returner: Josh Cribbs
Josh Cribbs was a rare one. An undrafted free agent. Touted as one of the best to play for Cleveland since 1999, he was an amazing talent. His versatility was key. Cribbs was an excellent return specialist. In eight seasons, he tallied 1,000 yards gained across punt returns, kick returns and receiving. That’s 15,453 yards in his career.
Tight end: Gary Barnidge
In 2015, Gary Barnidge totaled team highs of 79 receptions for 1,043 yards and 9 touchdowns. Etched into the memories of die hard Browns fans is that touchdown grab in the Week 5 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Barnidge’s receiving yards is the second most ever totaled by a Browns tight end and seventh most in franchise history.
Offensive Tackle: Joe Thomas
Joe Thomas earned Pro Bowl honors in every season from 2010-2016. Additionally, he was named first-team All-Pro seven times (2009-2011, 2013-2016). He played an NFL record 10,363 consecutive snaps from the start of his rookie season until a torn triceps ended his career in 2017.
Offensive Tackle: Mitchell Schwartz
He was a starting right tackle for all his 64 games with Cleveland. Mitchell Schwartz never missed a snap. Joe Thomas called him the smartest man on the team, and he was right. Schwartz was arguably the most consistent presence on an offensive line during his time with the Browns.
Offensive Guard: Joel Bitonio
In his rookie year, Joel Bitonio was quietly impactful on the Browns. He was easily the best offensive lineman on the roster back in 2014. His explosiveness and lateral agility set him apart from other guards. Pull blocking is something he has done exceptionally well, which he demonstrated in that Week 1 games against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He remains highly regarded in the current Browns roster, and the league.
Offensive Guard: Kevin Zeitler
Kevin Zeitler was a stalwart when it came to pass blocking. Browns fans were outraged when he was traded to the New York Giants in 2019. He did an outstanding job protecting Mayfield as a rookie and allowing a pocket for him to step into. That contributed to a surge for the Browns in the second half of the 2018 season.
Center: Alex Mack
He’s considered one of the league’s best interior linemen. Alex Mack’s presence on the offensive line impacted positively on the Browns. The three-time Pro Bowler anchored the line better than most. He left Cleveland for the Atlanta Falcons due to the fact that he reportedly liked winning.
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