Former University of Southern California quarterback Cody Kessler might lack the overall skill-set to be a solid starting quarterback, but he sure has the confidence to get the job done.
Less than a week after being nabbed by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the former Trojan seems prepared to open his NFL career as a starting quarterback.
“If there’s a team that has a 15-year vet or if there’s an open competition, I’m treating it as if I’m the starter,” Kessler told CBS Radio on Tuesday. “I’m going to come in there and compete for a spot, but I’m not going to be arrogant.”
Kessler will be competing with the recently signed Robert Griffin III for the starting gig this summer. Though, there’s also a chance last year’s primary starter Josh McCown will remain on the roster.
This isn’t exactly the most difficult of competitions for the young quarterback. RGIII has been a shell of his former self since a breakout rookie campaign in 2012.
He’s thrown just 20 touchdowns compared to 18 interceptions while posting a 5-15 record over the past three seasons.
Meanwhile, McCown is coming off a 2015 campaign that saw Cleveland lose seven of his eight starts despite the fact that he recorded 12 touchdowns and just four picks.
Kessler’s confidence in earning the starting gig comes after new Browns general manager Sashi Brown indicated that it will be an open competition for the job:
#Browns Brown doesn't want a QB controversy but Kessler will have a legit shot to beat out RG3:"It's a competition. We'll let it play out.''
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) May 1, 2016
That’s all fine and dandy, but it’s not like Kessler is entering the NFL as a can’t-miss prospect. Many pundits out there saw him as being over-drafted in the third round, as evidenced by where he was ranked by mainstream NFL draft experts.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller had him as the 10th-best quarterback in the draft and the No. 174 player overall.
Meanwhile, CBS Sports had Kessler 13th among his counterparts and as the 258th-best player in the class.
None of this really amounts to a hill of beans. Though, there are legitimate concerns over how Kessler’s skill-set will translate to the next level.
Per NFL.com’s scouting report:
“Kessler has moments where it is easy to like him on tape, but the traits and tape look more like those of a good, career backup than playoff starter.”
It will definitely be interesting to see how all this plays out. Should Kessler earn the starting job, it would be a major indictment on the two veterans competing with him for the starting job.
It will also limit the Browns’ offense due to the quarterback’s inability to actually get the ball down the field.
What we do know is that the new regime in Cleveland might want its own guy under center. If so, that bodes well for the former Trojan.