When it came time for the Browns to use the 12th overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, selecting former Ohio State safety Malik Hooker almost made too much sense. After all, the team was among the league's worst in passing, rushing and total defense.
The Browns used the first pick on Texas A&M's All-American defensive end Myles Garrett, and could have shored up their secondary by picking Hooker. Instead, Cleveland traded down and eventually drafted Michigan's Jabrill Peppers.
It made some Browns fans unhappy to watch as three former Buckeyes (Hooker and cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley) went ahead of the seemingly positionless Wolverine, but there's also a long history of such moves taking place.
Well, what if Cleveland's front office actually selected Hooker? Or even further, what if the Browns focused solely on drafting prospects who played their college ball two hours down Interstate 71?
Today's technological advances allow us to find out. We put every former Ohio State player in the NFL onto the Browns' roster in Madden '18 — trading comparable talent where we saw fit as to make the teams as realistic as possible, hence, Garrett to Los Angeles for defensive end Joey Bosa — and simulated the 2017 season.
So how did the former Buckeyes do? Let's take a look.
WEEK 1: vs PITTSBURGH STEELERS – L, 30-24 (OT)
The Browns led 21-7 at the half behind two touchdown passes from Cardale Jones, but Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger orchestrated a fourth-quarter comeback to tie the game at the end of regulation. He threw for 377 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score to JuJu Smith-Schuster in overtime.
WEEK 2: at BALTIMORE RAVENS – W, 22-21
The Ravens held a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter of this back-and-forth affair, but a pair of Mike Nugent field goals proved to be the difference for the Browns. Joey Bosa's sack of Joe Flacco on third down pushed the home team out of field goal range with seconds remaining, and the ensuing hail mary attempt sailed out of the back of the end zone.
WEEK 3: at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS – L, 45-7
Quarterback Andrew Luck was a perfect 7-for-7 in the first quarter to help the Colts to an early 21-0 lead. Cardale Jones then threw an interception and fumbled on consecutive drives, which put the Browns down 38-0 at the half. The lone bright spot for the Browns was Curtis Samuel's 96-yard kick return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
WEEK 4: vs CINCINNATI BENGALS – W, 24-17
Cardale Jones had his best day as a starter as he passed for 230 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Michael Thomas in the first half to give Cleveland a 14-point lead over Cincinnati at the half. The Bengals mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, but Bradley Roby's interception in the end zone sealed the win for the Browns.
WEEK 5: vs NEW YORK JETS – W, 31-28
New York mounted a 21-point lead at the half behind first-time starter Bryce Petty, but Ted Ginn Jr.'s 52-yard punt return touchdown got the second-half comeback started for Cleveland. Cardale Jones shrugged off an early interception to find Terrelle Pryor for a pair of scores in the third quarter and Ezekiel Elliott's 85-yard touchdown run with two minutes left gave the Browns the win.
WEEK 6: at HOUSTON TEXANS – L, 28-10
The Browns held a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but Cardale Jones threw a career-high three interceptions on consecutive drives as the Texans scored 21 unanswered to get the win. Rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson tossed three touchdown passes for Houston in that same time frame, and the Cleveland defense was not up to the task of stopping him with its back against the wall.
WEEK 7: vs TENNESSEE TITANS – L, 48-42 (OT)
Both Marcus Mariota and Cardale Jones threw for over 300 yards apiece in a rematch of the starting quarterbacks from the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship. But it was the former who got his revenge, as Mariota led Tennessee down the field on the first drive of overtime to give the Titans a 48-42 win over the Browns.
WEEK 8: vs MINNESOTA VIKINGS – W 22-16 (OT)
It took overtime for the second straight week and third time this season, but Cleveland prevailed in Minnesota when safety Malik Hooker stepped in front of a Sam Bradford pass and returned it 45 yards for the game-winning score. Neither team was particularly efficient on offense, so it was no surprise the game was decided by a defensive score.
WEEK 9: at DETROIT LIONS – W, 38-24
Cardale Jones outdueled the highest-paid player in the league, Matthew Stafford, as he threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns to lead Cleveland to a relatively easy win. The Browns led throughout, as Jones hit Michael Thomas for a 61-yard touchdown just three plays into the game. He did toss a pair of interceptions late, though, as he was trying to blow out the team up north.
WEEK 10: vs JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – W, 36-21
Trailing by six entering the fourth quarter, Cleveland scored 21 unanswered to knock off Jacksonville. Ted Ginn's 74-yard touchdown reception on the first play after the break gave the Browns the lead, while Marshon Lattimore's pair of interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown — gave the team its first three-game winning streak since 2014.
WEEK 11: at CINCINNATI BENGALS – W, 35-14
Cleveland rushed out to a 21-0 halftime lead thanks to Cardale Jones, who found Ted Ginn Jr. and Carlos Hyde in the end zone on consecutive drives. He finished the game with 300 yards and two touchdowns passing. Gareon Conley, meanwhile, held A.J. Green without a catch, and Cincinnati recorded its lowest offensive output of the season as a result.
WEEK 12: at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – L, 38-24
A pair of second-half touchdown receptions from Ted Ginn Jr. helped knot the game at 24 with just over eight minutes remaining. But as he led Cleveland down the field late, Cardale Jones was stripped in the backfield by Los Angeles' Myles Garrett, who picked up the loose ball and returned it 35 yards for the go-ahead score. Jones' pick-six one play later sealed the game for the Chargers.
WEEK 13: vs GREEN BAY PACKERS – L, 31-10
Cardale Jones was sacked five times and the stout Green Bay defense held Cleveland scoreless for three quarters. League MVP Aaron Rodgers, meanwhile, threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns, including a 75-yard bomb to Jordy Nelson on the first play of the game, as the Packers rolled to their 12th win of the season.
WEEK 14: vs BALTIMORE RAVENS – W, 34-14
Joey Bosa's fourth first-half sack of Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco resulted in a fumble that was picked up and returned 12 yards for the score by Gareon Conley to give Cleveland a comfortable 24-0 lead at the intermission. From there, the Browns rode Ezekiel Elliott to the tune of 119 yards and one touchdown to wrap up their first .500 or better season since 2007.
WEEK 15: at CHICAGO BEARS – L, 38-35
Rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubinsky outdueled Cardale Jones — 289 yards and three touchdowns compared to 138 yards and one score — to help Chicago to its first win of the season. Carlos Hyde did his best to keep Cleveland in it, though, as he rushed for 141 yards and 3 touchdowns. Veteran kicker Connor Barth nailed a 52-yard field goal for the Bears as time expired.
WEEK 16: at PITTSBURGH STEELERS – W, 41-38
In what essentially amounted to a play-in game to get to Wild Card Weekend, Cleveland was able to overcome a league-high 430 passing yards from Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger to advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Linebacker Ryan Shazier made his presence felt, recording 15 tackles and the game-saving interception with less than a minute remaining.
WILD CARD: at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – L, 42-17
Not used to the postseason, Cleveland seemingly forgot to travel to Kansas City for the Wild Card round. Rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes II threw for 211 yards and 3 touchdowns and rookie running back Kareem Hunt ran for 117 yards and a score of his own to help the Chiefs advance. Defensive tackle Cam Heyward was the lone bright spot for the Browns, as he recorded eight tackles and one sack before he rode off into the sunset.
In review, the Browns finished 9-7 and made their first trip to the playoffs since 2002. But even a team full of Buckeyes couldn't bring the city its first Super Bowl appearance.
As they say in Cleveland, "There's always next year!"
