Browns rookie QB Cody Kessler will prepare as starter, won't be 'arrogant'
Browns fans were understandably skeptical when the team traded out of the No. 2 spot and instead waited until the third round to select former USC quarterback Cody Kessler.
By
Ryan Wilson
•
2 min read
Browns fans were understandably skeptical when the team traded out of the No. 2 spot -- and the chance to take Carson Wentz -- and instead waited until the third round to select former USC quarterback Cody Kessler, who was rarely mentioned in the weeks and months of pre-draft hype leading up to last weekend's big event.
Recent history says Kessler will wash out in Cleveland, but perhaps things will finally be different under new coach Hue Jackson and an analytics-driven front office. Whatever happens, Kessler is excited about the opportunity.
"I had a great connection [with the coaching staff and the front office] and it was one of my better visits that I had throughout this whole process," Kessler told CBS Radio's Bull & Fox. ... "I can tell that [Jackson] demands greatness from his players and I'm a player that demands greatness of myself."
And while Robert Griffin III is expected to be the starter, Kessler says the depth chart won't affect his preparation.
"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," he said. ... "I’m going to come in there and compete for a spot, but I’m not going to be arrogant."
Heading into the draft, NFLDraftScout.com ranked Kessler as the 13th-best quarterback prospect, though he was taken ahead of Connor Cook, Dak Prescott and Cardale Jones. But who knows how college quarterbacks will fare in the NFL. Either way, Jackson wasted little time trying to reassure the doubters that these aren't the same old Browns.
“He almost completed 68 percent of his passes," Jackson, who has a history of getting the most out of young quarterbacks, said over the weekend. "The guy has had a tremendous career. I understand where everybody is coming from, but you've got to trust me on this one. This is a guy that we feel very comfortable with, and we think he's going to have an opportunity to ascend.”
Meanwhile, Browns head of football operations Sashi Brown told PFT Live every quarterback on the roster -- RG3, Josh McCown, Connor Shaw, Austin Davis and Kessler -- are competing for the starting job.
“There’s no question with the investment in Robert, we absolutely feel like he has the opportunity to become the starting quarterback. There’s still a competition there, and we haven’t named a starter yet, and Cody will get into that mix.” Brown said.
