Ranking all 30 of the Cleveland Browns quarterbacks since 1999
By Greg Newland
No. 6 – Trent Dilfer
While Jake Delhomme was very successful, Trent Dilfer may be the most successful quarterback to play for the Browns. Dilfer won a Super Bowl in 2000 with the Baltimore Ravens but didn’t play for the Browns until 2005, past his prime. Although Dilfer has a ring, that Ravens defense in 2000 may have been better than the legion of boom.
In one season with the Browns, Dilfer did go 4-7, which isn’t great, but better than most. While Dilfer would go 58-55 in his 13-year career, his best was certainly behind him by the time he made it to Cleveland.
No. 5 – Brian Hoyer
The Browns have likely had no more likable quarterback than Brian Hoyer. The Michigan State alumni returned home after four years in the league. In 2013 he went 3-0 and then in 2014, the team started 6-3 before an injury to Hoyer and then ended the season 7-9. Hoyer came back from injury later in the season but was never the same.
In just two years Hoyer was 10-6 as the starter, and the Thursday Night win vs. the Bengals in 2014 was one of the more exciting games I’ve ever been to in person. But when Hoyer went down with a knee injury, the air was sucked out of the stadium. Hoyer is a phenomenal play-action passer (would love the Stefanski system) but struggled when the team fell behind or on obvious passing downs. He has made a tremendous living in the league as a backup and often finds himself playing for the New England Patriots (again).
No. 4 – Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson caught lighting in a bottle in 2007 and led the Browns to a 10-6 record, just missing the playoffs. In that season Anderson threw 29 touchdowns to targets like Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards. If the Browns could have won in Cincinnati in week 16, they would have made the playoffs.
Anderson was known for having a cannon and wasn’t afraid to use it. In four seasons with the Browns, Anderson would end up 16-18, with only the 2007 season to show. Anderson would move on to be a long-time backup to Cam Newton in Carolina and just recently retired. Anderson only had one great year, but it was a fun run for Brown’s fans.
No. 3 – Tim Couch
Coming out of Kentucky, Tim Couch was considered one of the best draft prospects in the last decade in 1999. With the Browns coming back into existence many believed the team wouldn’t have to hardly wait at all for a franchise quarterback.
While Couch never quite lived up to expectations, he had a bad roster for most of his career in Cleveland. He would only play for the Browns and in five seasons he went 22-37 as the starter. Couch only played one full season, but often found himself injured.
The potential was there, but bad luck and a poor offensive line allowed him to get hurt far too often. Couch will always get some additional love for being the first Browns quarterback of the modern era.