Cleveland Browns: Drew Stanton trusted by Freddie Kitchens

With Tyrod Taylor set to leave in free agency, the Cleveland Browns could look for a new backup quarterback — or maybe they stick with Drew Stanton, who has a believer in Freddie Kitchens

Last season, Tyrod Taylor was supposed to be the starter for the Cleveland Browns while Baker Mayfield groomed for the job. That changed when Mayfield stepped following an injury to Taylor and he never relinquished the job.

With the rookie under center, no one really worried about the No. 2 spot. That was being occupied by Taylor, who everyone knew could come in and do the job. What we didn’t really know was what they had in Drew Stanton.

That was no fault of the veteran quarterback, but just the truth considering he threw a grand total of seven passes in the preseason and none in the regular season for the Browns. What we do know is Stanton had some ups and downs in his career, but still got plenty of wins.

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While playing for the Arizona Cardinals from 2014 through 2017, Stanton had 13 starts and put together a 9-4 record. His numbers during that span don’t jump off the pages (51.1 percent pass for 2,901 yards with 15 touchdowns and 15 picks), but the veteran does have a believer in head coach Freddie Kitchens, who says Stanton can be the primary backup.

"“His last 16 games that he started in the National Football League now, he’s 10-6. So we feel like Drew can play. Drew’s not there to be a secular coach or whatever. Drew can play.” — Kitchens said via Dan Labbe of Cleveland.com"

Kitchens would know better than most what Stanton can do. The new Cleveland head coach was with the Cardinals from 207-2017 and spent 2013 through 2016 as the quarterback coach — which overlapped the time Stanton was in the desert.

There still could be a cry for a young camp arm or someone to develop as a potential backup down the road but for now, Kitchens seems content to roll with No. 5 as his No. 2.