Since their return to the league in 1999, the Cleveland Browns have been downright awful. With only two winning seasons since their NFL homecoming, the Browns have floundered about in the basement of the league. Cleveland has had 26 starting quarterbacks since 1999, and exactly zero of them have actually stuck. Including Tim Couch and Johnny Manziel, many have passed through the “Factory of Sadness.” So far, none have truly survived. Certainly, none of them have thrived. But Hue Jackson may have found a diamond in the rough during the 2016 NFL Draft. When Cleveland drafted USC’s Cody Kessler in the third round, most fans weren’t expecting much. But as a bit of a pleasant surprise, Kessler was actually pretty good. For a middle-round rookie quarterback, Kessler was relatively productive. Since the end of the season, some Browns fans have proposed that the team keep Kessler long-term.
The Case for Cody Kessler
Rookie Mistakes
Cody Kessler made some…bone-headed mistakes during the 2016 season. Amazingly, he threw a touchdown on his first NFL pass (in preseason). However, he also took two safeties in the exact same game. Kessler’s rookie year was a series of ups and downs. At one time, he had the fifth-highest quarterback rating in the league. Despite this, he went 0-8 in his starts. His career record as a pro currently stands at 1-15.
Kessler will no doubt improve by next year. He was never meant to be the starter this year. A desperate coaching staff thrust him into the fray during week three against the Dolphins. And even then, he almost won the game. Had Cody Parkey converted on the possible game-winning field goal, Cleveland would have won that game. Truthfully, Kessler is the best option at quarterback on the Browns roster. If Hue Jackson gives him ample time with the first team offense in the offseason, his success will skyrocket.
What Coach Hue Can Do for You
Hue Jackson has a bit of a reputation around the National Football League. As a known quarterback wizard, Jackson has coached players like Andy Dalton and Carson Palmer to stardom. He can and will have the same effect on Cody Kessler.
Kessler entered the draft as the most accurate quarterback in the class. Completing 67.4% of his passes at USC, he had pinpoint precision as a Trojan. Kessler also became notable as a quick learner and a cerebral assassin. Additionally, Hue Jackson took Kessler as his hand-picked prospect, and told fans to “just trust [me] on this one.” He wanted Kessler to develop under his coaching. And develop he has. Kessler made tremendous progress during the 2016 season. Fans have every reason to believe that he’ll continue to improve.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
There’s a saying among Cleveland sports fans. “Maybe next year,” they often say at the end of a Cleveland Browns football season. But realistically, what does “next year” hold for the Browns if they keep Kessler? Well, it actually makes life a lot easier for team management.
If the Browns don’t have to use a valuable draft pick on a quarterback in 2017, they can focus their scouting efforts elsewhere. Building a competent defense and getting weapons for Cody Kessler will take higher priority. The Browns will be able to focus their energy on the team as whole, not just at quarterback. And putting a team around Kessler will make Kessler himself better.
A young quarterback is only as good as two things: his weapons and his defense. And the Cleveland Browns are downright awful in both of those departments. But fear not, Browns fans. This draft is defensively stacked and has plenty of great receiving talent. If Kessler is the focus, and the Browns know what he wants and what can work with, he will succeed.
It might not seem plausible. Truthfully, it might seem impossible. Thus is the mentality of the Browns fan, and understandably so. But Kessler can work, even with his physical limitations. He really just needs some semblance of a defense and a few solid, go-to receivers. So yes, it might seem impossible. But maybe Hue Jackson was right. We’re just gonna have to trust him on this one.
