It’s not hard to figure out how the Browns went 1-15 last season.

 

You just need to look at how they’ve done with their high picks in the NFL Draft in recent years.

 

The Browns selected defensive tackle Phil Taylor in the first round, at No. 21 overall, in 2011.

 

In the first round in 2012, they selected running back Trent Richardson at No. 3 overall and quarterback Brandon Weeden at No. 22 overall.

 

They selected wide receiver Josh Gordon in the second round, at No. 34 overall, in the Supplemental Draft in 2012.

 

They selected linebacker Barkevious Mingo in the first round, at No. 6 overall, in 2013.

 

In the first round in 2014, they selected cornerback Justin Gilbert at No. 8 overall and quarterback Johnny Manziel at No. 23 overall.

 

In the first round in 2015, they selected defensive lineman Danny Shelton at No. 12 overall and offensive lineman Cameron Erving at No. 19 overall.

 

The draft is the lifeblood of every team. It’s always been that way. It’s that way now. It will always be that way.

 

As such, teams are what their high draft picks are. If those picks are good, then the team is good. And if the picks are bad, then the team is bad. It makes sense, right?

 

OK, we see that only Shelton is still with the Browns. He looks like he just might be the exception in that he will be a decent player. But we don’t know that for sure yet. We’ll just have to wait and see.

 

With all their high picks through the years, the Browns right now should be stocked with great players who are playing great and making the team great. That there are no great players – and perhaps only a middle-of-the-road player – is why the Browns are at the other end of great.

 

So Browns fans can only hope that the members of the current regime got it right in last year’s draft and, with five picks in the top 65, including the Nos. 1 and 12 overall choices, will get it right this year. If not, then we already know what will happen.