Greg Pruitt was a bit undersized (180lb), but when you are a two-time All-American (and eventual College Football Hall of Famer), the NFL will still call, which in his case were the Browns with a high Second Round Pick in 1973.

In his rookie year, Pruitt was used as a backup Running Back and was a Pro Bowl as a returner, and it was much of the same as a sophomore, though he played more at Running Back, setting up what was to come.  In 1975, Pruitt was now the starting RB, and that year and the two that followed saw the former Sooner hit 1,000 Yards, and a third and fourth Pro Bowl (1976 & 1977).  Pruitt slowed down afterward, and eventually lost his starting role, though he was still a productive force for Cleveland.

After the 1981 Season, Pruitt joined the Los Angeles Raiders, mainly as a returner, and would win a Super Bowl Ring. With the Browns, Pruitt had 10,700 All-Purpose Yards.  Later, in 2001, Pruitt was one of the first four former Browns named to their legends category.

The Cleveland Browns got exactly what was advertised when they took the USC Linebacker with the number three pick in 1982.  

Banks was electric as a rookie, winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year with the first of what would be four Pro Bowls in five seasons.  Banks also was a First Team All-Pro (1983), and from 1982 to 1986, he was in the discussion as one of the best Linebackers in the business.  

Likely sensing potential contract issues, Banks was traded to San Diego, where he wound up sitting out the 1988 Season when he held out.  With the Browns, Banks had 27.5 Sacks, and in four of his five seasons, he had an Approximate Value of double digits. 

Unlike the 1950s and 1960s, the 1970s were not the glory days of the Cleveland Browns, but they did have some bright spots, one of which was Defensive Tackle Jerry Sherk.

Sherk was a Brown for the entirety of his 12-year career, winning the starting job on the right side as a rookie.  He would grow into one of the top pass rushers for the Browns through the decade, exceeding the 10-Sack plateau four times, accruing 70.5 in total.  From 1973 to 1976, Sherk was a Pro Bowl honoree, with the last four years seeing the former Oklahoma State Cowboy capture First Team All-Pro honors.  That year, he was so good that the NEA (Newspaper Enterprise Association) named him the Defensive Player of the Year.  The Browns named him as one of their Legends in 2005.

After a promising career at Louisville, Frank Minnifield was not drafted by any NFL team, but he landed employment with the Chicago Blitz of the USFL.  As the team migrated to Arizona, he proved himself NFL worthy, though he had to sue his way out of the fledgling league.  Once he did, the Cleveland Browns were waiting.

Minnifield was an All-Rookie starter at Cornerback, and by his third year, he was named to his first of four Pro Bowls.  In the last half of the 1980s, Minnifield was one of the best at his position, and he was a First Team All-Pro in 1988 and a Second Team Selection in 1987 and 1989.  Known for his devastating hits, Minnifield was a favorite of the Browns fans, and he remains one of the more popular figures in team history.

Minnifield was injured for most of the 1990 season, and he was not the same player afterward.  He remained with the Browns until he retired after the 1992 Season.

Minnifield is best known for coining the term "Dawg Pound" alongside fellow defensive star Hanford Dixon.  That will long outlive any Brown or Browns fan.  The team named Minnifield as one of their legends in 2005.