Backing Up Baker: Cleveland Browns backup quarterback controversy

The Cleveland Browns have the starting quarterback position figured out, but who will back up Baker Mayfield in 2019?

As usual, the Cleveland Browns have a quarterback controversy this coming year, but this time it’s about the second string position rather than the first string, which is securely in the hands of Baker Mayfield. So who will John Dorsey bring into camp to compete for the second string quarterback position?

Traditionally, the Browns get rid of the backup quarterback every year. This is the chicken method of resolving a quarterback controversy: get rid of the competition to make it look like one guy has emerged. Consequently, the departing quarterback is blamed for all of the problems of the previous regime.

Each front office has enjoyed making a big deal out of banishing the former quarterback, and for the most part, the fan base has applauded those moves. But in truth, second stringers like Derek Anderson, Colt McCoy, Brandon Weeden, Brian Hoyer, Cody Kessler, and Josh McCown were probably not that bad for backups particularly once they had had a year or two experience with the Browns.

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2018’s second-stringer was Tyrod Taylor, who is now a free agent. Taylor had a disappointing three-game career with the Browns, but it may not be his fault. Can we agree that the Todd Haley offense was not very conducive to quarterback success? After all, Mayfield was 1-4 as a starter under the same coaching tandem. Taylor, while putting up very poor numbers, probably cannot be blamed for an offense that was clearly dysfunctional under Jackson and Haley.

Drew Stanton, the number 3three guy in 2018, is currently second on the depth chart. He has the advantage of having been with the team for a full season now, but is he really viable as a backup? He has an 11-6 career record as a starter, but he has been under 50 percent completions every year since 2014. Is he really the best guy we can get if Baker Mayfield should go down?

One of the primary reasons that John Dorsey got fired by Kansas City was for making too many investments in quarterbacks. All told, for Alex Smith, Pat Mahomes, and Kevin Hogan (yes, the same Kevin Hogan who played for Cleveland and another guy who got on coach Hue Jackson’s bad list), Dorsey traded two number ones, two number twos, one number three and a number six for his three quarterbacks.

That could happen in Cleveland also. If there is a quarterback available in the draft and Dorsey believes he is a top 20 NFL quarterback, his history suggests he will acquire quarterbacks till he gets not one, not two, but three quarterbacks he likes.

The fan base may not like having someone compete for Baker Mayfield’s position. Nevertheless, that is the correct football move. Dorsey is not of the mindset that team chemistry is improved by having a weak player at second-string quarterback.

Given that Freddie Kitchens seems to have the ability to develop young quarterbacks, it would make sense to draft a project quarterback. This is what the Patriots did by drafting Jimmy Garoppolo at a time when backup quarterback did not seem to be the team’s immediate need.

This seems very likely around Round 3 or later. The Browns may add another veteran to displace Drew Stanton, if there is a quarterback out there that they believe can be a near-term upgrade.

Stanton has the advantage of knowing the personnel and the Coaches, and so he should start training camp ahead of the other quarterbacks not named Baker.    It’s probable that Stanton will survive but not out of the question that he could be replaced in this off-season.