Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns: Five jerseys to buy this Christmas

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:45 p.m. ET

Fansided, Jonathan Goehring/FanSided via Dawg Pound Daily

Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah (90) during the second quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Jets won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Have any Cleveland Browns fans on your list this Christmas? Not sure what to get them? One of these five jerseys would be the perfect stocking stuffer.

Christmas is less than a week away, and if you are anything like most of us, you probably have some last minute shopping to do. It is always hard to find that perfect gift, especially when time becomes a factor.

What are you to do? Well, one solution for the Cleveland Browns fans on your list is to buy them a jersey. This option is simple, but effective for those you are shopping for that you not know what to get

But then the question is, which jersey should you buy? The Browns are 0-14, playing six different quarterbacks this season, and have absolutely no stability anywhere. It’s hard enough to be a Cleveland fan. Having to gamble on which jersey to buy a fanatical loved one is virtually impossible.

After all, what you want to do most is buy exactly what they want. And if they don’t ask for anything specific, but you know they are die hard Browns fans, you don’t want to disappoint by getting them a jersey of a player who they either despise or will leave in the offseason.

So, we decided to come up with a guide for purchasing jerseys as last minute Christmas gifts for the Browns fans on your list. Here are five, ranked from fifth to first, for you to choose from.

Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton (55) during the second quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Jets won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

5. Danny Shelton

Position: DT

Number: 55

Age: 23

Contract: Signed through 2019

Coming to Cleveland as a highly touted 12th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Danny Shelton‘s career got off to a very slow start. With just over a tackle a game and no sacks, the rookie Shelton disappointed many fans, as he was not the force in the middle of the defense as expected.

This season, Shelton is beginning to become the player we all anticipated him to be. With 31 tackles and still two games to go, the 23-year-old is beginning to make his presence felt on the field.

There is still a long ways to go, but the time has come where there is no shame in wearing a #55 jersey. In fact, since Shelton is only destined to improve, this would be a good investment. While not the most exciting player, Shelton is likable because he does his job, and is one of the few players on Cleveland’s defense who really appears invested in everything going on.

Also, signed through 2019, there is a good chance Shelton will be around that long, at the very least.

The downside, of course, is the lack of excitement Shelton brings. He is big, and he takes up space, but he isn’t flying around the field like some others are. This makes his jersey slightly less trendy, and not recognized as particularly popular, especially among younger Browns fans. But for optimistic fans who love the defensive side of the football, a Shelton jersey is not a bad gift at all this Christmas.

Nov 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson (29) during the fourth quarter between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Giants won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

4. Duke Johnson

Position: RB

Number: 29

Age: 23

Contract: Signed through 2018

In the midst of an abysmal season, one player who has held his own is running back Duke Johnson. Showing improvement throughout his first two seasons, 2015’s third round draft selection has now established himself as the team’s most promising back.

With more career receiving yards than rushing yards, Johnson is more than a typical running back. This is what distinguishes him from Isaiah Crowell, as well as the fact that Crowell is a free agent after this season.

Johnson fits very well in Hue Jackson‘s offense, proving to be a threat on the ground and through the air out of the backfield.

So for the fan that you know who is a fan of offense, and is an optimist, Johnson’s jersey could be an under the radar gift. With a reasonable amount of security with the organization due to how well he fits in the offense, the former Miami Hurricane will see an increase in jersey sales as Christmas approaches.

Nov 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) runs the ball after a reception during the second quarter against the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Giants won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

3. Terrelle Pryor

Position: WR

Number: 11

Age: 27

Contract: Signed through 2016

When it comes to Terrelle Pryor‘s jersey, there are two completely opposed factors that go into the decision of whether or not to purchase it.

On one hand, the 27-year-old has been Cleveland’s star player in 2016, and it isn’t even close. Completing the conversion from the quarterback position to wide receiver this year, Pryor has proved to be the third best receiver in the AFC North. Catching 67 passes for 877 yards through 14 games, the Ohio State Buckeye has excelled even under extremely difficult circumstances, with struggles and unprecedented inconsistency.

However, a huge problem with Pryor’s jersey is the looming free agency factor. At the end of this season, the 6-6, 240 lb receiver will be an unrestricted free agent. With the sort of season the Browns are having and the type of quarterback play they have gotten, a player with as much potential entering his prime as Pryor will undoubtedly be considering his options.

The good news is that Pryor is a Buckeye, even though he was originally from Pennsylvania. But whether or not this is enough to guarantee an extension is unknown. In the end, it probably isn’t.

So to say the least, buying your loved one a Pryor jersey is a huge risk. He is clearly the best player on the team and would easily find himself at the top of this list if not for being a free agent at the end of the year.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Statue of Cleveland Browns player Jim Brown at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

2. Throwback

For all those scrambling to find the right player’s jersey to fit the person you are shopping for, take a step back for a moment, and think about whether or not a throwback jersey would be a better fit.

Why a throwback jersey? The main reason, of course, is that you won’t ever have to worry about the player being moved to another team. It is very depressing to see all sorts of Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson jerseys at FirstEnergy Stadium. It seems sometimes that there are more jerseys of players who no longer play for the Browns than players who do.

The simple solution to ensure that the jersey you are buying for your loved one does not join this group is to get them a throwback jersey. Jim Brown is the way to go, but be sure they don’t already have one. If they do, Bernie Kosar and Lou Groza would be perfect options. Again, be sure that they do not already have these. If they don’t, they certainly won’t mind having a jersey that will never be outdated.

Not to mention, many fans take a whole lot more pride in their past memories of the team than the makeup of the current roster. This feeling, of course, is justified. And getting a throwback jersey builds pride and passion for a Browns fan who is more than likely demoralized this Christmas.

Dec 11, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah (90) before the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Bengals won 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

1. Emmanuel Ogbah

Position: OLB

Number: 90

Age: 23

Contract: Signed through 2019

Emmanuel Ogbah? A very unlikely player to grab the top spot on a list like this. After all, the vast majority of jerseys purchased are of quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. A rookie inside linebacker isn’t normally going to create all that much revenue for jersey manufacturers.

But just as the Browns normally are, unconventional is the way to go here. With the way Ogbah has been performing even under terrible circumstances, there is so much reason for optimism and pride in wearing this jersey.

Plus, with a contract like that of Ogbah, it is extremely unlikely the rookie is going anywhere any time soon. Making $1,201,753 this year alone, this total is only going to rise. In total, his four-year contract will earn him over $6.6 million. The Browns aren’t going to move this or pay it off, by any means.

Sure, Pryor and Johnson may be exciting skill position players, but Ogbah has the combination of excitement, raw skill, and security with the organization.

The somewhat sad truth is, Ogbah is the most stable player on this team. His future, unlike any other player, is clearly in Cleveland. On top of this, the excitement he provides as a fast and powerful pass rusher will make his jersey a popular one to be wearing.

For what it is worth, his name is also fun to say, and easy to remember. All of these factors combine to make a purchase of a #90 Browns jersey the best idea for the fan on your list. It communicates a sense of optimism, which is what Christmas is all about.

Merry Christmas to all Cleveland fans! Go Browns!