The Cleveland Browns added former Pro Bowl quarterback Vince Young to the roster after he worked out for the team earlier this week. With only Brian Hoyer and Alex Tanney currently on the roster, Cleveland needed to focus on veteran training camp competition.
https://twitter.com/DeniseWhite_EAG/status/461934429280018432
The timing of the move, one week before the draft, is a tad intriguing. Normally we see teams stray away from signing veterans at this point in the offseason, waiting until after the three-day draft has concluded.
With that said, the addition of Young doesn’t change Cleveland’s draft philosophy. It is still going to look for a quarterback early in the draft next Thursday. At the most, Young provides a stopgap option should he excel in training camp. The deal likely includes very little guarantees, which indicates Cleveland could part ways with Young during the summer months if he’s not up to snuff.
Young last appeared in a regular season game for the Philadelphia Eagles back in 2011. He was in training camp with the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills last summer, but failed to make it out of camp.
The two-time Pro Bowler, who has posted a career 31-19 record as a starter, is four years removed from being a viable quarterback in the NFL. His best season came with the Tennessee Titans back in 2009 when he led the team to a 9-2 record in 11 starts. In Young’s last extended playing time, as a member of Philadelphia’s “Dream Team” squad in 2011, he compiled four touchdowns compared to nine interceptions.
Cleveland has also signed veteran journeyman Tyler Thigpen to compete for a roster spot. Thigpen last saw regular season action for the Buffalo Bills back in 2012. He started 11 games for the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2008, losing 10 of those starts.
Get excited, Cleveland.
Photo: Denny Medley, USA Today