With the 52nd overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns, once again, went for a quarterback. Initially, many expected the Browns to reach and go for Mitch Trubisky or Deshaun Watson in the first round. However, Hue Jackson‘s crew was able to hold off and let a top signal-caller come to them. Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer fell into Cleveland’s lap in the second round, and their management finally gave in (and rightfully so). Judging by the fact that Kizer once ranked as college football’s top quarterback, it’s no wonder that the Browns selected him. Looking at the former Notre Dame player, he might be the quarterback that Browns fans have waited for since 1999.
DeShone Kizer Spells Progress for Cleveland Browns
Physical Prowess
Let’s take a look at Kizer in the physical department. Honestly, he might be the perfect quarterback specimen of the class. Standing at 6’4″ and 235 pounds, Kizer is a big-bodied quarterback ready for the AFC North. With the likes of Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco in the same division, Kizer is a blueprint for the “AFC North Quarterback” archetype.
In addition to his physical stature, Kizer has a powerful and accurate arm. Aside from new Kansas City Chief Patrick Mahomes, he might possess the best arm talent in this class. Of course, some may make an argument that Kizer is even better. In an offense closer to the NFL’s style, Kizer saw success. Mahomes, however, was a gunslinger in an air raid offense. Therefore, Kizer should be far superior in the pros. Although only time can tell, it seems that the Browns made the right choice in the physical department of their quarterback.
Development
Out of all the quarterbacks in the class, DeShone Kizer has the most potential to offer. Fortunately for him, working under Hue Jackson should help him greatly. Jackson’s reputation with quarterbacks is hard to ignore (see Andy Dalton and Carson Palmer). If he plays his cards right, Kizer could be next in line to see that kind of success. If all goes well, Kizer should unlock his full potential under Hue Jackson. And if that’s the case, he could put the rest of the AFC North on notice pretty quickly.
The Front Office
This pick says a lot about the current Cleveland Browns front office, more than anything else. First of all, they didn’t reach for a quarterback in the first round. Although they traded back into the first, they selected David Njoku from Miami. Why? Well, because the rival Pittsburgh Steelers were giving him a long look. Sashi Brown and the front office wanted to make sure that in such a case, the rich did not get richer once again. Smart move there on Njoku, by the way.
Secondly, it shows that the front office is willing to build in any way they can. Of course, that’s to be expected from the front office of a team that went 1-15 last season. However, it shows a patience that Browns fans haven’t seen in a long time. Since coming back to the league, the Browns have been in a rush to get out of the basement of the NFL. But because they are in such a rush, they seem to consistently miss out on the top talent. Under this front office, however, it seems that they are willing to go with the “best player available” approach. For a rebuilding team, that is a genius (albeit obvious) move. The Browns wanted Kizer, but they were willing to wait for him to come to them.
Conclusion
Weirdly enough, DeShone Kizer is in a perfect situation with the Browns. That’s unusual. Nevertheless, it’s clear to see that Kizer is a great fit in Cleveland. Most importantly, he has the size to succeed in the NFL’s most physical division. Kizer is a hometown kid from Toledo, Ohio and he has played in Cleveland weather before. Additionally, his development under head coach Hue Jackson could make him into one of the league’s best. Finally, and most strikingly, this pick means a lot for the front office. It shows the Browns are headed in the right direction with their management. In only a few short years, DeShone Kizer could end up being the key to a Cleveland Browns success story.
