There has been a lot of talk around the National Football League that quarterback prospects heading into the 2014 draft might end up falling dramatically come next Thursday. This isn’t due to a lack of teams with needs at the all-important quarterback position. The Cleveland Browns, who will be selecting fourth overall barring a trade, are one of those teams.
They have not fielded a consistent franchise quarterback since the always entertaining Bernie Kosar was suiting up for a “franchise” that now calls itself the Baltimore Ravens. Don’t question me on the semantics right now, Art Modell was the owner of the Browns the last time they had a decent franchise guy under center.
Since Kosar moved on during the 1993 season, the Browns have thrown out draft busts, washed-up veterans and simply bad quarterbacks nearly each and every year. It’s now become known as the city where quarterbacks go to die.
Warning to all you Browns fans out there, who I have utmost respect for, the following list isn’t that pretty.
Year | Quarterbacks | Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
1993 | Vinny Testaverde, Todd Philcox | 3,309 | 23 | 19 | 76.2 |
1994 | Vinny Testaverde, Mark Rypien | 3,269 | 20 | 21 | 68.6 |
1995 | Vinny Testaverde, Eric Zeier | 3,772 | 21 | 20 | 76.6 |
1999 | Tim Couch, Ty Detmer | 2,997 | 19 | 15 | 73.5 |
2000 | Doug Pederson, Tim Couch, Spergon Wynn | 2,728 | 9 | 19 | 63.4 |
2001 | Tim Couch | 3,154 | 18 | 21 | 74.3 |
2002 | Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb | 3,665 | 27 | 22 | 80.5 |
2003 | Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb | 3,116 | 17 | 18 | 75.2 |
2004 | Jeff Garcia, Kelly Holcomb, Luke McCown | 3,076 | 21 | 21 | 74.9 |
2005 | Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye | 3,323 | 15 | 17 | 75.5 |
2006 | Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson | 3,247 | 15 | 25 | 69.8 |
2007 | Derek Anderson, Charlie Frye | 3,866 | 29 | 20 | 80.7 |
2008 | Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Ken Dorsey, Bruce Gradkowski | 2,537 | 11 | 20 | 54.8 |
2009 | Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson | 2,255 | 11 | 18 | 55.8 |
2010 | Colt McCoy, Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace | 3,203 | 13 | 18 | 75.1 |
2011 | Colt McCoy, Seneca Wallace | 3,300 | 16 | 13 | 72.8 |
2012 | Brandon Weeden, Thaddeus Lewis | 3,668 | 16 | 18 | 73.5 |
2013 | Jason Campbell, Brandon Weeden, Brian Hoyer | 4,372 | 26 | 20 | 75.7 |
That is a total of five seasons with more touchdown passes than interceptions. Not until last year did the Browns compile 4,000-plus passing yards in a season. To contrast for a second, they have put up less than 3,000 passing yards twice in the last six years. I am not entirely sure how that happens in the pass-friendly modern day NFL.
Only once since 1993 have the Browns tallied a quarterback rating of 80 or more in a single season. Their 23 starting quarterbacks since 1993 is also an indication that continuity isn’t a word utilized very often in Cleveland. Interestingly enough (or not so much), Cleveland has had multiple quarterbacks start in a season every year since 1993 with the exception of 2001.
Sadly, the Browns have had talent on the other side of the ball to compete. It’s been all about disastrous quarterback play from 1993 on.
One of the primary reasons that Cleveland has struggled at the quarterback position is that it really hasn’t invested high-round picks in that area in recent seasons.
Year | Pick | Player | Starts |
1995 | 3 (84) | Eric Zeier | 4 |
1999 | 1 (1) | Tim Couch | 59 |
2000 | 6 (183) | Spergon Wynn | 1 |
2004 | 4 (106) | Luke McCown | 4 |
2005 | 3 (67) | Charlie Frye | 19 |
2007 | 1 (22) | Brady Quinn | 12 |
2010 | 3 (85) | Colt McCoy | 21 |
2012 | 1 (22) | Brandon Weeden | 20 |
This despite the fact that Cleveland has picked in the top 10 a total of 10 times since 1994. It’s as if the entire Tim Couch disaster made this franchise second guess itself come draft day, kinda like Kevin Costner in the movie itself.
Two of the three first-round picks that Cleveland has exhausted on quarterbacks over this span were taken in the bottom half of the first round. As recent history suggests, this isn’t a recipe for success in the NFL.
Year | Pick | Player | Team |
2002 | 1 (32) | Patrick Ramsey | Washington Redskins |
2003 | 1 (22) | Rex Grossman | Chicago Bears |
2004 | 1 (24) | J.P. Losman | Buffalo Bills |
2005 | 1 (24) | Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay Packers |
2005 | 1 (25) | Jason Campbell | Washington Redskins |
2007 | 1 (22) | Brady Quinn | Cleveland Browns |
2010 | 1 (25) | Tim Tebow | Denver Broncos |
2012 | 1 (22) | Brandon Weeden | Cleveland Browns |
Aaron Rodgers is obviously the exception to this rule. While there have been some major duds at this position go in the top 10 since 2002, the chances of a team hitting in that area of the draft is greatly increased.
Unfortunately for fans in Cleveland, it once again has a pick in the 20’s and there are rumors out there that the brass is looking to use that selection on a quarterback. If so, it would likely be selecting a player that multiple quarterback-needy teams have passed up on.
Is this the year that Cleveland actually goes out there and spends a top pick on a quarterback? Based on the sample size above, I wouldn’t be too sure. With that said, the new front office seems to be smitten with a couple quarterbacks in the draft, especially Johnny Manziel and Derek Carr. If that’s the case, why not go out there and get your guy? While it’s too early to indicate that those two are going to be better professionals than Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater, the idea of actually targeting a player that you deem to be a franchise type guy makes more sense than going for leftovers.
Cleveland needs to trust its gut and make the right pick. Whoever it decides is the best option, must go off the board at No. 4 overall. It really is that simple. Is this the year we will hear “we want Carr chants” in Cleveland? For the sake of the fan base, I surely hope so.
Photo: Huffington Post