Cleveland Browns: QB position remains most glaring hole on roster

Nov 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (6) during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Cowboys won 35-10. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (6) during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Cowboys won 35-10. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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A recent ESPN.com articled identified roster holes for each NFL team, and the one for the Cleveland Browns comes as no surprise to Browns fans.

Cleveland Browns fans are aware of the team’s inability to find a franchise quarterback. It is no secret, and leads to fans clamoring for the team to find the savior in every NFL Draft.

Fans are doing their best to believe in the current front office, but it becomes difficult to remain optimistic after being let down year after year.

The search continues, and it was brought up in a recent ESPN.com article highlighting the biggest roster holes on each NFL team. ESPN’s Pat McManamon summed it up this way:

"Why should 2017 be any different than the past however many years have been in Cleveland? The Browns’ endless search for a quarterback continues, with no easy solution in sight. The way things are shaping up, 2017 could be every bit as tough a season as 2016."

Some fans will lash out at his apparent pessimism, but he has seen it all before. The best option currently on the team, who may actually be here in September, is Cody Kessler, and even he had a rough 2016 season.

The next best option is drafting a rookie, but success there is still an uncertainty given the lack of a standout player in this year’s class. That doesn’t mean there isn’t one or two guys who will have great careers and surprise fans, but it may be hard to get off to a great start while on a rebuilding team.

Brock Osweiler is the wild card option, but he may not even be here after this month.

Even though this position remains the team’s most glaring need, it may not be addressed until 2018. The front office seems content to build up the other positions on the roster before investing heavily in a quarterback. This puts a lot of stock in next year’s draft class, but “this year” always seems to become “next year” with the Browns, so the waiting must come to an end soon.

Next: Adoree Jackson draft profile

It may indeed happen this year, but until it does, the position is going to remain the one fans focus on throughout the remainder of 2017, and into 2018.