Comparing Jimmy Garoppolo to Brock Osweiler is unfair
Cleveland Browns fans may try to compare Jimmy Garoppolo to Brock Osweiler, yet simply being backup quarterbacks isn’t enough to form a fair comparison.
As talks of a possible trade for Jimmy Garoppolo start to heat up (again), it is easy to draw comparisons to the odyssey of another backup quarterback.
Brock Osweiler leveraged his short time starting in place of Peyton Manning in Denver into a huge contract with Houston. Obviously that situation unraveled quickly, leading to his eventual departure. Should the Browns be wary of a similar scenario with Garoppolo when considering a trade?
The facts are Osweiler did not play well last season. The mile high expectations from his time in Denver fell astronomically short of target.
In fifteen games in 2016, Osweiler lacked accuracy throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. His inability to make quick decisions left him getting sacked more than necessary. Just the overall play of Osweiler was not good enough for his massive salary.
All of this culminated in his eventual benching during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15.
https://twitter.com/NFLUK/status/810570045759877121
Over the course of one season, the perception of Osweiler has dramatically shifted. The Texans had to basically give him away when just a year earlier he was the hottest commodity out there.
Naturally, there are going to be comparisons in the case of Garoppolo. No one can deny that the kid has looked good. His 2016 statistics were exciting but he only started two NFL games. That kind of small sample size is terrifying for a team who is going to have to fork up a lot to get a deal done.
However, the notion that Osweiler and Garoppolo’s situations are alike is flawed. Yes, both players have spent time under the tutelage of outstanding quarterbacks. Osweiler spent four years behind Peyton Manning in Denver and Garoppolo has spent three behind Tom Brady in New England. The difference comes in their experiences.
Osweiler only spent one season as a starting quarterback at Arizona State before entering the NFL Draft. Garoppolo was a four-year starter at Eastern Illinois. In his senior season, he led his team on a nice run in the FCS playoffs.
Related: Drafting a QB not a sure thing in 2017
It also cannot be discounted that the Patriots organization was quick to draft a small-school quarterback in the second round. Osweiler was a second rounder as well. However, it is much more likely for someone from Arizona State to get drafted early as compared to Eastern Illinois.
At this point, the New England organization tend to know what they are doing. The fact that they were so high on Garoppolo is telling. Even now, are the Patriots asking such a high price tag for business reasons or do they really see something special?
In the end, the best way to progress as a quarterback is game repetitions. Both of these quarterbacks could work given the right guidance, players around them, or scheme. Maybe Osweiler just needs more time to develop. Maybe Jimmy Garoppolo is not the next great quarterback in the NFL.
Next: Hue Jackson sounds less than sold on Brock Osweiler
The Browns cannot let fear get in the way of their decision on this matter. The Brock Osweiler situation should have no influence on Jimmy Garoppolo. Stop the comparisons. Go with the facts, make a decision, and get ready for 2017.