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5 Emergency QBs The Cleveland Browns Should Consider Signing

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5 Emergency QBs The Cleveland Browns Should Consider Signing

Johnny Manziel
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

It’s become an annual tradition in Cleveland. They’re in Week 17, can’t make the playoffs and have concerns at quarterback. Only this year, the Browns’ newest starter is just injured, not terrible. Well, he’s not great, but at least now Johnny Manziel has a whole offseason to prove he’s “the guy.” If Brian Hoyer can’t start Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, here are five free agents the Browns could sign in their efforts to play spoiler.

5. Mike Kafka

Mike Kafka
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

5. Mike Kafka

Mike Kafka
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted the cannon-armed Kafka in 2010. While he lacked the polish or publicity of earlier picks Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow, he, unlike those two, remains an active competitor in the NFL. Kafka has bounced around a few franchises, eventually ending up on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad. But given their hopeless QB situation down there, it’s a little concerning that he hasn’t been given a chance to start.

4. Caleb Hanie

Caleb Hanie
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

4. Caleb Hanie

Caleb Hanie
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The one factor in Hanie’s favour is the fact that he has seen some significant playing time. Most casual fans remember him as the emergency QB who stepped in for the Chicago Bears in the 2010 NFC Championship Game, in the midst of the Jay Cutler is-he-or-isn’t-he-injured fiasco. Hanie even threw a touchdown in that game, but has since been irrelevant in the league, having worn four different jerseys since 2012.

3. Trent Edwards

Trent Edwards
Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

3. Trent Edwards

Trent Edwards
Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

To answer your first question, yes, Trent Edwards is still around. Although it feels like he has lingered around the league forever, he was only drafted in 2007. He held down a position with the Buffalo Bills for four years before he too was relegated to journeyman status in the NFL. His longevity and relative durability suggests he should be able to pick up the basics of a playbook in time for this weekend.

2. Terrelle Pryor

Terrelle Pryor
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

2. Terrelle Pryor

Terrelle Pryor
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Of all the free agents QBs on the market, the polarising Pryor might be the best fit for the read-option, QB-draw offense the Browns were trying to instil with Manziel. The former Oakland Raider is no wily veteran, but has spent time as a starter as well as a few months as a member of the defending Super Bowl champions. His athleticism is beyond reproach, best seen in his record 93-yard TD run against the Pittsburgh Steelers last year.

1. Connor Shaw

Connor Shaw
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

1. Connor Shaw

Connor Shaw
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

First of all, apologies to anyone hoping to celebrate Tebow Time. You’ll have to find someone a little more radical for that sort of reasoning. Shaw is the only logical option. As a member of the Browns’ practice squad all year, he knows more about this offense than everyone else on this list combined. If Shaw does start and plays well in relief, Browns fans might be lamenting a whole new offseason of QB controversy in Believeland.

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