Browns make substantial statement regarding Brock Osweiler

Can the $16 million quarterback stick on the Browns roster?

Few mysteries remain as polarizing than the Cleveland Browns search for a franchise quarterback. It’s a journey the organization has taken on the last 20 years, and little light glistens at the end of the tunnel.

Cleveland enters the 2017 season with Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan returning and veteran Brock Osweiler and rookie DeShone Kizer as the newcomers. Kessler showed promise as a rookie, throwing six touchdowns to only two interceptions in nine games.

Kesslers’ strongest opponents to Kessler are the rookie Kizer, who impressed in his first preseason appearance, and former Bronco Brock Osweiler. After riding the pine behind Peyton Manning towards a Super Bowl in Denver, Osweiler went south on and off the field.

After signing a four-year deal with Houston Osweiler has been plagued by turnovers and harsh criticism from across the NFL landscape. His tenure in Houston was so bad the organization essentially paid Cleveland in draft picks to take his $71 million contract off their hands.

Many wondered if the cap-rich Browns could release Osweiler, flip him for more picks, or actually give him a chance to start this year. After much speculation, Browns’ head of football operations Sashi Brown all but confirmed Osweiler would make the team.

Given the early success of Kizer this year and Kessler’s history last year it remains to be seen how large of a role Osweiler will have with the Browns. His contract allows for the Browns to escape after this year, adding yet another name to their carousel of quarterbacks.

Next: 2018 Mock Draft

If a team desperate enough for a quarterback (and unwilling to take on Colin Kaepernick) reaches out to the Browns I’d expect Kessler to be of greater interest than Osweiler. Financially, at least in the short-term, Osweiler’s deal isn’t sustainable for teams. Perhaps even worse is his production on the field taking teams out of games.