Fansided

Top 30 NFL players of the 21st century

By Jarrett Bailey

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 24: Darrelle Revis #24 of the New York Jets reacts with Jordan Jenkins #48 before a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 24: Darrelle Revis #24 of the New York Jets reacts with Jordan Jenkins #48 before a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 17: Offensive tackle Joe Thomas #73 of the Cleveland Browns before they take on the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr /Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 17: Offensive tackle Joe Thomas #73 of the Cleveland Browns before they take on the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr /Getty Images) /

21. Joe Thomas

Joe Thomas was the most talented player on a constantly talentless team. Ever since Cleveland drafted him in 2007, he was one of the best left tackles in the game. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2007, and repeated as a Pro Bowler in 2008.

From 2009-11, he made three consecutive All-Pro teams. It didn’t matter what quarterback was under center, Thomas made a living out of making sure no one touched them. He made three more All-Pro teams from 2013-15, and didn’t miss a snap in his career until an injury in 2017 caused him to miss nine games.

Thomas retired following the 2017 season when the Browns went winless. He was never part of a playoff team, and it’s a shame because if he stuck around for a couple more seasons, he would have been a member of the Browns team that finally made the playoffs. Regardless of the bad teams he had around him, Thomas was incredibly consistent and one of the best blockers in the game for a decade.

Thomas is a sure-fire Hall of Famer when the time comes, and was one of the few beacons of light in one of the worst eras of football in Browns history.

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