Ranking all 30 of the Cleveland Browns quarterbacks since 1999
By Greg Newland
No. 10 – Colt McCoy
Colt McCoy was a third-round high-value pick from the 2010 draft. McCoy was graded as a second-tier prospect, and many gave kudos to the Browns for getting him as late as they did. While McCoy has had a lengthy NFL career, his first three years in Cleveland have been his most successful.
In 21 starts McCoy was 6-15 with 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He remains in the league with the Washington Redskins but has only added one additional NFL win in the last six seasons. McCoy was another successful college quarterback that played in the perfect system. While throwing the ball is more popular in the NFL, the gunslinger mentality has yet to fully transition to the league (besides Patrick Mahomes).
No. 9 – Charlie Frye
Charlie Frye was another Ohio native that was supposed to be the Brown’s savior. The former Akron Zip was a third-round pick in 2005 and started five games as a rookie. After a 2-3 record, fans were excited for the 2006 season before he went 4-9. In 2007 Frye would start the opening game of the season before being replaced.
Frye quickly sizzled out of the league after his stint with the Browns and ended with a 6-13 record in Cleveland with only 14 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Frye was a superior athlete in the MAC but couldn’t adjust to the speed of the NFL.
No. 8 – Jeff Garcia
The next three quarterbacks came to Cleveland just a year or two late. Jeff Garcia started his career with the 49ers and had two seasons with 10 or more wins. In year six of his career, he came to the Browns and in one year would only achieve a 3-7 record.
While Garcia finished his career with a 58-58 record as a starter, most of his success came with a much better roster in San Francisco. After the experiment in Cleveland Garcia would end his career as a primary backup with four different teams.
No. 7 – Jake Delhomme
Jake Delhomme is one of the most successful quarterbacks to play for the Browns since 1999, it’s just unfortunate they got him on the back half of his career. In seven seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Delhomme won 10 plus games three times and led the team to a Conference Championship in 2005.
Delhomme came to the Browns in the 10th year of his career, and after an unfortunate injury, he would never regain the starting job in Cleveland. Delhomme’s first pass as a Brown was a pick-six vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That should have been a sign it just wasn’t meant to be.