Cleveland Browns Draft Bust #4: Chaun Thompson

by Chris Pokorny on Apr 12, 2011 10:21 PM EDT

Leave it to Butch Davis to pick an unknown linebacker from West Texas A&M with the Cleveland Browns' second-round pick in 2003. Thompson barely contributed to the team in his rookie season with just 11 tackles. He started the majority of the team's games over the next two seasons, but his productivity never matched the hype given to him by Davis.

It's hard to believe that Thompson spent five years as a member of the Browns. Can you honestly remember a meaningful game that Thompson had during that span? His most significant contributions seemed to come on special teams, which is not the sole output you want from your second-round pick. I guess Davis fell in love with Thompson's speed and raw talent.

In doing research on Thompson, I came across this former scouting report on him. At the time it was posted in his rookie season, the odds of Thompson being a Pro Bowler was listed as 20%. o_O

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I think he deserves more credit for doing 4 years in Canyon, TX.

West Texas A&M is really an understatement.

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra

by JustPlainBrowns on Apr 12, 2011 11:14 PM EDT reply actions

So this is one where you can’t hate the man, but the coach for the absurdity of the pick. I’m sure the ranking debate will begin after seeing all 10, but I would place Green (1st rounder) above Thompson (2nd rounder) because Thompson did contribute for 5 years on ST. At least we got some use out of him.

Certainly a bad pick, though.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin

by Spidey on Apr 13, 2011 7:59 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I agree. He was such a reach. We could have had him in the fifth round. He was a really good special teams player though. I think he led the team in tackles in ’07 on ST. I remember we tried to re-sign him, but he went to Houston. He worked out better than he should have. Veikune was much worse.

by 24rubikscube on Apr 13, 2011 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Veikune was much worse.

Spoiler Alert!

Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.

by Chris Pokorny on Apr 13, 2011 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Veikune Mattataaaa….

by johnnyphoenix on Apr 13, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Veikunage!

Evil wins again, but Truth prevails where Good fails.

by North Coast Flea on Apr 13, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

I would argue that Green’s extremely short stint as a productive running back is still way more valuable than five years of special teams play.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Apr 13, 2011 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

this is a good point.

by DontCallMeJoey on Apr 13, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Is 3.7 YPC productive?

by Bernie19Kosar on Apr 13, 2011 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not trying to be a smart ass here, I’m actually wondering. To me that seems less than average.

by Bernie19Kosar on Apr 13, 2011 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

It really isn’t, Chaun Thompson is that bad.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on Apr 14, 2011 1:38 AM EDT up reply actions

With the OL we had? Absolutely.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Apr 14, 2011 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

This does need to be taken into consideration.

Evil wins again, but Truth prevails where Good fails.

by North Coast Flea on Apr 14, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions

The true miracle is that Jamel White had 4.4 ypc during that 2002 playoff season. Always liked that kid.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Apr 14, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

i remember being absolutely apoplectic when butch made this pick. if i remember correctly, his college team won like 1 game in chaun’s (great spelling, by the way) storied career. how in the world could a LB on the worst team in division 46 be a second round pick?

freaking butch…

by DontCallMeJoey on Apr 13, 2011 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

Someone should make a list of the variety of ways in which athletes have spelled the name Sean — there’s also Shawn, Shawon, Chone, Chaun. I’m sure that I’m missing a few.

by Buckeye Brad on Apr 14, 2011 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions