Gerard Warren Gerard Thurston Warren ( born July 25 , 1978 ) is a former American football defensive tackle of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of Florida . He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns third overall in the 2001 NFL Draft , and has also played professionally for the Denver Broncos , Oakland Raiders , and New England Patriots of the NFL . Early years . Warren was born in Lake City , Florida . He attended Union County High School ( Florida ) in Lake Butler , Florida , where he played for the Union County Tigers high school football team . Warren finished his high school career with 36 sacks , and was ranked among the top ten defensive linemen nationally . During his four years in high school , the Union County Tigers had an overall win - loss record of 49 – 4 and won three consecutive Florida Class 3A state championships in 1994 , 1995 and 1996 . Warren was named to the Prep Stars and " USA Today " high school All - America teams . In 2007 , ten years after he graduated from high school , the Florida High School Athletic Association ( FHSAA ) recognized Warren as one of the " 100 Greatest Players of the First 100 Years " of Florida high school football . College career . Warren attended the University of Florida in Gainesville , Florida , where he played for coach Steve Spurrier ' s Florida Gators football team from 1998 to 2000 . As a junior team captain in 2000 , Warren posted 76 tackles and 4 . 5 sacks at defensive tackle and was a first - team All - Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) selection and a second - team All - American . He finished his three - season career as a Gator with 159 tackles , 9 . 5 sacks , and 30 tackles for a loss in 35 games and 22 starts . Professional career . Cleveland Browns . Warren was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the third overall selection in the 2001 NFL Draft . He played in 15 games a rookie in 2001 , all starts , and finished with 83 tackles and five sacks . In 2002 , Warren started all 16 games , recording 56 tackles , two sacks , and two forced fumbles . He started 15 games for the Browns in 2003 , picking up 70 tackles and a career - high 5 . 5 sacks . In his final season in Cleveland , 2004 , Warren played in and started 13 games , missing three to injury , and finished with 38 tackles and four sacks . Denver Broncos . In March 2005 , Warren was traded to the Denver Broncos for a fourth - round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft . In addition to Warren , the Broncos also acquired defensive linemen Michael Myers , Ebenezer Ekuban , and Courtney Brown from the Browns , leading some to dub the new Broncos defensive line the " Browncos . " Warren finished the 2005 season with 42 tackles and three sacks in 16 starts . In 2006 , Warren started 15 games and recorded 30 tackles and 2 . 5 sacks on the season . Oakland Raiders . In August 2007 , during the preseason , Warren was traded by the Broncos to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a conditional fifth - round draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft . In 2007 , Warren played in 12 games ( five starts ) for the Raiders , posting 22 tackles , four sacks , and one forced fumble . Warren started all 16 games in the 2008 season , finishing with 39 tackles , four sacks , and one forced fumble . In his final season with the Raiders , 2009 , Warren again started all 16 games and finished the year with 35 tackles and two sacks . He was released by the Raiders on March 11 , 2010 . New England Patriots . On April 24 , 2010 , during the final day of the 2010 NFL Draft , Warren signed with the New England Patriots . Despite being a late free agent signing , Warren made the Patriots ' roster and began the season as a starter at defensive end before moving to nose tackle in Week 6 . After two games at nose tackle , Warren moved back to defensive end but did not start the team ' s Week 8 game against the Minnesota Vikings . He returned to the starting lineup in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day , and went on to start four of the team ' s final five games after Thanksgiving . Warren finished the regular season with 28 tackles and 3 . 5 sacks in 16 games ( 10 starts ) . The Patriots re - signed him on August 8 , 2011 after he had been a free agent for most of the offseason . During the 2011 season , he played in eleven games , all off the bench , and compiled a sack and 15 tackles . Afterward , he again became a free agent , but he re - signed with the Patriots on April 30 , 2012 . He was again released on August 26 , 2012 .