Over the next week, ClevelandBrowns.com will analyze each position group on the roster with a quick look back at 2016 and an eye toward 2017 and beyond.
Raw Data
Cody Kessler - 8 starts, 128/195, 1,380 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs, 92.3 QBR
Robert Griffin III - 5 starts, 87/147, 886 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs, 72.5 QBR; 190 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Josh McCown - 3 starts, 90/165, 1,100 yards, 6 TDs, 6 INTs, 72.3 QBR
Kevin Hogan - 14/26, 104 yards, 2 INTs, 31.6 QBR; 105 rushing yards, TD
*Charlie Whitehurst - 14/24, 182 yards, TD, INT, 78.8 QBR
Terrelle Pryor Sr. - 5/9, 41 yards, 67.4 QBR
- No longer with team
Others on the roster
N/A
Rankings
Passing yards per game - 204 yards per game - 28th
Completion percentage - 59.6 percent - 24th
Passing TDs - 15 - 30th
INTs - 14 - T-16th
Contract talk
The following players are restricted or unrestricted free agents heading into 2017:
N/A
Quote to note
"We haven't established 'the guy' at the position so we are going to look at all options, and we will continue to work to develop the guys that we have on our roster. We still have to – I know this will apply to the number of questions you have today – sit down with our coaching staff and go through our end-of-season evaluation, go back and look at the tape and have discussions internally to see where all the guys sit on our roster right now, but we know we need better from that position, as well as others that support that position." -- Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown
High point
Cleveland's offense never clicked better than it did during the first quarter against the Ravens in its Week 2 home opener. McCown connected with Corey Coleman on two touchdown passes and that proficient passing opened up the run game, which saw Isaiah Crowell break off his longest run of the season, an 85-yarder, in a first quarter that ended with Cleveland ahead, 20-2. McCown was 6-for-8 for 92 yards in the best quarter of the Browns' season.
Low point
Already without Griffin and McCown for significant stretches because of their respective injuries, the Browns saw a third quarterback sidelined when Kessler left in the first half of Cleveland's Week 5 matchup with the Patriots with a chest injury. That left the Browns with only journeyman Charlie Whitehurst at the position. Whitehurst, who was acquired two weeks earlier, held it together in what was a lopsided loss but was ultimately sidelined, too, because of a knee injury that ended his time with the Browns.
Surprise, Surprise
Kessler received the standard amount of reps and opportunities in the preseason as most third-string quarterbacks around the NFL. Simply put, it wasn't all that much and not a normal amount for a player that ends up starting the most games for his team. That's what made Kessler's debut and subsequent games so impressive, as the rookie from USC never looked flustered and nearly led the Browns to wins in Week 3 and 4 on the road at Miami and Washington. In Week 6 against the Titans, Kessler was the driving force behind a comeback that came up just short. Kessler struggled a bit in his later starts but proved to be reliable more often than not.
Outlook for 2017
The next three months will be pivotal as the Browns look to evaluate and potentially reshape their quarterback room. Cleveland's top decision-makers have made it clear they're not satisfied with the performance and stability at the game's most important position. The past week and upcoming weeks and months will be first used to determine if the answer(s) can be found on the current roster and then to survey the landscape -- whether it be free agents, trade, draft or a combination of all three -- to determine how the Browns can be in a better spot for 2017 and beyond.
