Cleveland Browns’ Draft Proves QB Job is Robert Griffin III’s to Lose

By Casey Drottar

When the two first met last month, new Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson told quarterback Robert Griffin III that if he was going to sign with the team, he should expect to compete for the starting job. Particularly, Jackson was inferring the team was going to draft a QB regardless of whether or not Griffin signed. At the time, Cleveland had the No. 2 overall pick, so the thought was Jared Goff or Carson Wentz were to be viewed as Griffin’s main competition.

The draft came and went this weekend and, sure enough, the Browns left it with another quarterback. It just wasn’t the one everyone was expecting.

After trading down to the No. 15 pick and passing on upper-tier prospects like Connor Cook or Paxton Lynch, Cleveland ended up taking Cody Kessler of USC. Taken 93rd overall, many saw the former Trojan going as late as the fifth or sixth round. However, Jackson spent Friday night raving about Kessler’s accuracy, claiming all skeptics need to trust him on this selection.

Yesterday, head of football operations Sashi Brown went one better, claiming the team expects Kessler to compete for the starting job right away. Though many see him as a player with a decent arm but low ceiling, the Browns are warning everyone not to sleep on his chances of winning the position.

Personally, I don’t buy it. As much as they want to claim it, I don’t think the Browns are putting too much stock in the idea of Kessler being their Week 1 starter. If anything, this past weekend Cleveland seemed to make it clear the starting gig is Griffin’s to lose.

To clarify, I don’t mind the selection of Kessler. He was near the top of his class in terms of accuracy, and his touchdown-interception ratio is definitely something to appreciate. While I think he could’ve been taken at least a round later, Kessler isn’t a bad pick at all.

That said, I still have trouble believing the idea we need to gear up for Griffin vs. Kessler this coming training camp.

For one, if the Browns were really going to give Griffin legit competition, wouldn’t they have gone with someone like Lynch or Cook instead? Many believed them to be more pro-ready. This isn’t to discount Kessler, it’s merely to point out the fact he has some work to do.

Secondly, the PR push from the Browns front office all seems to be a way of showing they meant what they told Griffin before signing him. As they said, they took a quarterback even though Griffin was signed. At the same time, that they ended up reaching a bit on a player some thought could potentially be available after the draft, takes a little edge off the promise of competition.

So, knowing doubts were being cast the second Kessler’s name was read, Jackson and Brown began spinning this as a steal, telling everyone they best not doubt the USC standout.

That’s all well and good. Again, Kessler seems like a sharp player and with some seasoning, could become a viable starter for the Browns. Considering the fact the last quarterback Cleveland drafted was watching this weekend’s festivities from a bar in Columbus, that’s certainly not a bad evaluation.

It’s just difficult for me to believe the coaches plan on making him a legit threat to beat out Griffin.

Jackson has shown undying allegiance to the former Washington Redskins player since the day he was signed. With a chance to draft one of the two best QB prospects available, Cleveland instead traded out of the second overall pick. Jackson is known league-wide as a sort of “quarterback whisperer,” and it sure feels like he wants Griffin to be his next project.

As mentioned, while many are against the selection of Kessler, I’m willing to give the Browns the benefit of the doubt. The rest of their draft was an impressive haul, and it wouldn’t surprise me if their new rookie QB saw some action at some point in the coming season.

At the same time, if Kessler is starting in Week 1, odds favor it being not because he won the job, but because Griffin lost it.

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