Cleveland Browns: Ranking every starting QB since 1999
Tim Couch 1999-2003
As the number one overall draft pick in 1999, Tim Couch was expected to be the first franchise quarterback of the new Cleveland Browns. Though it didn’t quite work out that way, the reason for Couch’s short career was not entirely due to a lack of talent on his end, but to a team surrounding him that was poorly crafted and poorly coached. Couch fought through many injuries which were brought about mostly due to an obvious lack of pass protection, and never was the same after spending five seasons with the Browns.
In the midst of all of these struggles however, Couch did manage to start 59 games in the five-year span, by far the most of any Cleveland quarterback since 1999. He finished 22-37, but with 11,131 passing yards and 64 touchdown passes. Couch’s longevity is mostly the reason for his high ranking, as his play in the regular season led the Browns to the playoffs in 2002.
Though he will never be regarded as one of the better quarterbacks in NFL history, and he may not be appreciated by many Browns fans, what Couch brought was stability to the quarterback position. This has yet to have returned to Cleveland’s organization, and often, Browns fans would be satisfied with just another Tim Couch.
The expectations were high and Couch didn’t deliver, but the lack of success the Browns had during the era was due to players and coaches other than Couch. All expectations aside, Couch actually had a decent career all factors considered, and will go down as one of the more talented quarterbacks in Browns history.
Next: No. 1: Derek Anderson