Pro Football Focus is in the process of naming their All-Pro teams within each division. The other day, they covered the AFC North and several Browns players cracked the list. Besides the obvious choice in left tackle Joe Thomas, who else received some recognition?
Offensive Tackles: Joe Thomas, CLE and Andre Smith, CIN
Make no mistake, this was not Joe Thomas at his very best. In a down year for offensive tackles, Thomas looked excellent at times, but was also beaten more than he should be and didn’t threaten the top of our offensive tackle rankings where he belongs. Andre Smith, who was at one time just an afterthought as another iffy draft choice for the Bengals, quietly had a good season overall on the right side of the line, even if it was marred by some very poor games.
Cornerbacks: Ladarius Webb, BAL and Joe Haden, CLE
Only Darrelle Revis has a higher grade in coverage at corner than Webb this season and he was one of only two full-time starting corners not to allow a touchdown all season. He had 11 passes defensed in addition to his five interceptions. Haden led the league with 17 PDs, even if he went the entire year without picking one off. The young corner has a massive amount of potential and though he was beaten occasionally this season, could easily become one of the league’s best shortly. Ike Taylor missed out by virtue of being beaten too often and conceding a lot of penalties, even if he does have a tougher role by being asked to track a team’s No. 1 receiver.
Kicker: Phil Dawson, CLE – Gets this spot largely because Billy Cundiff’s injury cost him notable leg strength.
Perhaps notably absent from the list are center Alex Mack and linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. It seems that Mack was considered the third best center at best, based on PFF's comments.