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Cody Kessler to compete with Robert Griffin III for Browns starting quarterback job

By John Buhler

Feb 27, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler throws a pass during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler throws a pass during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cody Kessler will reportedly compete with Robert Griffin, III for the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback job in 2016, says general manager Sashi Brown.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, former USC Trojans quarterback and third round pick of the Cleveland Browns Cody Kessler isn’t with the Browns to strictly back up presumed starter Robert Griffin, III. He will reportedly compete with Griffin to be the Browns starter for the 2016 NFL season.

When somebody asked Browns general manager Sashi Brown on Saturday night at the Browns’ post-draft press conference if Kessler was brought in just to backup Griffin, Brown vehemently disagreed with that notion. Brown said on Kessler, “I beg to differ with that. I do think Cody is a guy that I would not want to sleep on at all if I wanted to be the Browns starting quarterback.”

Brown would added that Griffin does have four years of NFL experience on Kessler, but said “…this is going to be a competition.” Yes, Griffin is the front-runner to be the Browns starter, but many were surprised that Brown would honestly throw their third round pick in Kessler into the mix to be the Browns’ next starting quarterback.

Kessler was the 93rd overall selection during Saturday night’s portion of the 2016 NFL Draft. He was the starting quarterback for a USC team that won the Pac-12 South in his senior season. Kessler was a 2015 Heisman Trophy hopeful, but though he came up well short of that honor, he did have himself a strong senior season at USC.

Kessler started all 14 of the Trojans’ games, throwing for 3,536 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions in 2015 at USC. Though Griffin is a former Heisman winner and No. 2 overall draft pick by the Washington Redskins in 2012, expect Kessler to bring out the best in Griffin during Browns training camp, as new Browns head coach Hue Jackson will start whoever does the best job of running his high-octane, aerially dominant offense.

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