Ranking the Browns positional units going into the 2018 season
September 4, 201810 Expectations for the 2018 Browns
September 5, 2018The Cleveland Browns seemingly haven’t had a legitimate franchise quarterback since their return in 1999. Their 2018 quarterback group with Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield could be the best they’ve had in two decades. Mayfield could be the franchise quarterback the city has been in search of for nearly 20 years. We truly won’t know until years down the road.
While the Browns have been without a franchise quarterback since 1999, there’s one thing their quarterbacks have been known for over the years: Being backup quarterbacks in the NFL. Heading into the 2018 season, there are nine former Browns who are now second-string quarterbacks on an NFL roster. That’s nearly 30 percent of non-Browns teams in the league:
- Robert Griffin III, Ravens
- Now backing up Joe Flacco in Baltimore, RG3 played in five games (all five starts) for the Browns in 2016, finishing 1-4.
- Kevin Hogan, Broncos1
- Backing up Case Keenum in Denver, Hogan once played in eight games (one start) for the Browns in 2016-17, finishing 0-1 as a starter.
- Brian Hoyer, Patriots
- Some thought the Ohio native was the answer for the Browns, but they were inevitably wrong. Hoyer was 10-6 in 16 starts (17 games) for the Browns in 2013-14. Now, the quarterback has the important (and easy) job of backing up Tom Brady.
- Cody Kessler, Jaguars
- A former third-round pick by the Browns, Kessler now backs up Blake Bortles in Jacksonville. In eight starts (12 games) from 2016-17 for the Browns, he was a perfect (imperfect?) 0-8.
- DeShone Kizer, Packers
- After lasting just one season in Cleveland, the former second-round pick finished 0-15 in 15 starts with the Browns in 2017 and is now backing up Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.
- Josh McCown, Jets
- Seemingly more of a coach than a player at this point, McCown was 1-10 in 13 games (11 starts) for the Browns from 2015-16. He is now the backup quarterback for rookie Sam Darnold in New York.
- Colt McCoy, Redskins
- A former third-round pick by the Browns, McCoy was 6-15 in 21 starts (24 games) from 2010-12 for Cleveland. He now backs up Alex Smith in Washington.
- Brock Osweiler, Dolphins2
- The guy the Browns traded for and paid over $15 million to just to acquire a second-round pick in 2018, Osweiler didn’t play a single game in Cleveland. He now backs up Ryan Tannehill in Miami.
- Brandon Weeden, Texans
- Known for not being able to get out from underneath the American flag prior to the game it’s only right that Weeden is now on a team whose colors are red, white, and blue. The former first-round pick was just 5-15 in 20 starts (23 games) for the Browns in 2012-13. He now backs up Deshaun Watson in Houston.
*If we’re talking solely about quarterbacks who have been on the Browns roster, that number is nine instead of eight. Alex Tanney was with the Browns from November 2013 to May 2014 but never played a snap in Cleveland.
Mayfield may eventually make people forgot about the Browns failures over the years, but until thing, one thing seems clear: The Browns are better at evaluating quarterbacks who will become backup, second-string quarterbacks in the NFL than identifying a franchise quarterback.