Fansided

NFL power rankings: Starting quarterbacks from best to worst

By John Buhler

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) in action against the Oakland Raiders during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) in action against the Oakland Raiders during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brock Osweiler

Quarterback, Cleveland Browns

Well, that one-year experiment with Brock Osweiler as the Houston Texans franchise was a complete failure. Houston benched Osweiler late in the season during its playoff push and later traded him to the Cleveland Browns in the form of a salary dump.

As weird as it may seem, Osweiler is the new franchise quarterback in Cleveland. Assuming Cleveland doesn’t draft a guy at No. 12 or think Cody Kessler is the man for the job, Osweiler will be the franchise quarterback for a second AFC team in as many seasons.

While he went 8-6 as a starter in 2016, Osweiler completed only 59.0 percent of his passes for 2,957 yards, 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. The Texans offense rarely found its rhythm with Osweiler under center. He’s not overly athletic, over-strides at 6’8″ and only throws fireballers to his receiving targets.

Frankly, Osweiler is not ideal to lead any NFL offense to the Super Bowl. However, he does tend to find ways to win games. He did it with the 2016 Texans and briefly with the 2015 Denver Broncos before that. Then again, he won’t inherit a top-tier defense like he had in Denver or Houston when he suits up for the Browns.

There are a few things that Osweiler could have going for him in Cleveland. He faces no pressure, as he has already been deemed a starting quarterback bust. Head coach Hue Jackson is creative in the passing game, maybe opening up more opportunities for Osweiler to succeed as a passer than at any point under Bill O’Brien. Lastly, Cleveland did go hard at upgrading its offensive line in free agency. An upright Osweiler can at least make the Browns passably mediocre.

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