Cleveland Browns: Settling with Brock Osweiler at quarterback in 2017?
The Cleveland Browns traded for Brock Osweiler several weeks ago and now it seems the team might keep him around and give him a chance in 2017.
2017 is an exciting year for the Cleveland Browns as the team owns several top-12 picks, including the No. 1 overall selection in the NFL Draft. In free agency, the team went out and built up the offensive line, giving whoever the quarterback is a fair chance to survive 16 games next season.
The team traded for Brock Osweiler on March 9, adding another option. Who will be the starting quarterback? Well, that is a wonderful question that will be up for debate until training camp arrives. For now, lets dissect the current options.
Of course, Brock Osweiler is still on the roster but so is 2016 third-rounder Cody Kessler. Kessler, who appeared to play competently in his rookie season, was not given a fair shot to succeed with a poor line, new regime and a young team.
Fans tend to appreciate the former USC Trojan and many would like to see him get another opportunity to start in 2017. However, if Osweiler remains on the roster the Browns will have a legitimate quarterback competition.
The former Texans quarterback is due $16 million this season and that might factor into the decision. When paying a player (especially a quarterback) that kind of money, one would assume they would pay him to play him. However, this is also the Cleveland Browns so anything can happen.
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Osweiler lost his starting job with the Houston Texans with bad play and confrontations with head coach Bill O’Brien. He posted 15 touchdowns to 16 interceptions, 197.1 yards per game and only a 55.3 QBR. Not what you expect after earning a four-year, $72 million contract.
But then the Browns pulled a Philadelphia 76ers move and absorbed his contract with a second-rounder. The weapons were certainly not the issue in Houston with DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Jaelen Strong and Braxton Miller at receiver, and also Lamar Miller at running back. And let’s be clear, the Cleveland Browns don’t have that receiving corps. However, they do have Hue Jackson — the quarterback whisperer.
There is no doubt Hue wants a shot to work with Osweiler if he remains on the roster by training camp. After all, he learned from Peyton Manning with the Denver Broncos and offers amazing height at 6-foot-8. At 26 years old, he already has a Super Bowl ring and knows what it takes to make it to the promised land and that should be accounted for.
Many expect Cleveland to have Kessler, draft the future franchise quarterback and bring in a veteran to lead the team. Although, the longer Osweiler is on the Browns roster the more it appears he is the veteran the team was expected to bring in.
Also, Osweiler was at the Browns headquarters in Berea last week, hinting the team may actually hold onto him. This opens up the quarterback competition wide open, whether they draft a quarterback or not in 2017. The possibility of trading for a player like Jimmy Garoppolo remains, although it is tough to tell what is true when it comes to the rumors surrounding the Patriots backup, making Osweiler a more realistic starting possibility as of right now.
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Despite the poor performance in 2016, Osweiler still offers potential and if the Browns can’t find a trade partner, they would be wise to give him a shot to start in 2017.