Cleveland Browns: Ranking every starting QB since 1999
Charlie Frye 2005-2007
After the 2004 season, the Browns were desperately searching for a franchise quarterback, a reoccurring theme throughout the decade. Drafting Charlie Frye in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft was not a bad pick, considering what Cleveland got out of Frye.
Though Frye didn’t start at the beginning of his rookie season, he got the opportunity to start his first game against the Jaguars in Week 13. Frye started the last five games of the 2005 season, and the Browns won two of them.
The door was open for Frye to be Cleveland’s starting quarterback n 2006, which he was for the most part. A quarterback who many didn’t expect to be a starter at the NFL level, Frye led a poor Cleveland team to 4 wins in his 13 starts.
Though his completion percentage was over 60 percent, he struggled with turnovers, throwing 17 interceptions against 10 touchdowns. Like Garcia and many other Cleveland quarterbacks, Frye was dealt a difficult hand in 2006. With the exception of star wideout Braylon Edwards, Frye had few options. The offensive line was also poor, leaving Frye’s health in danger.
In 2007, Frye edged out Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn in an open training camp quarterback competition, but struggled in the opening quarter of the opening game against Pittsburgh. He was replaced by Derek Anderson who went on to have a Pro Bowl season, and Frye never played for Cleveland again.
Overall, Frye provided some valuable longevity to the quarterback position, starting for more than an entire season in total. But like many others who went before him, Frye’s downfall came rather quickly, and his exit from Cleveland wasn’t delayed long. Still, many Browns fans actually appreciated the young quarterback for what he did in his short tenure as a Brown.
Next: No. 10: Jason Campbell