With NFL training camps set to start this coming week, the off-season is ripe for a bunch of surprises. Could former Super Bowl champion Brock Osweiler and the Cleveland Browns be one of them?
Osweiler, who won a ring as Peyton Manning’s understudy with the Denver Broncos, flamed out as one of the biggest free-agent flops in recent memory after signing a four-year $72 million contract—with $37 million guaranteed—with the Houston Texans.
During his lone year with the Texans, Osweiler threw for 2,957 yards, 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. In what was his last game with Houston, Osweiler completed 23-of-40 passes for 198 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in a 34-16 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
Osweiler would be acquired by the Browns for a 2017 second-round pick and 2018 fourth-round compensatory pick in an unprecedented NBA-style salary dump.
In Cleveland now, coached by a noted quarterback guru such as Hue Jackson, a revamped offensive line and talent at running back in Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson and on the outside in Corey Coleman, Kenny Britt, Ricardo Louis and David Njoku, Osweiler could have a potential Pro Bowl bounce-back type of year, and be the first Browns quarterback to make the NFL’s glorified All-Star game since current Carolina Panthers backup QB, Derek Anderson back in 2007.
Think about it, outside of the seemingly immortal Tom Brady, Derek Carr and Andrew Luck, who else is in the AFC?
Ben Roethlisberger. Banged up, getting older and the last days of his prime.
Philip Rivers. One of the greats. Father Time is undefeated though.
Joe Flacco. Also getting older, not the same player he once was.
Ryan Tannehill. Dan Marino 2.0 or Jay Fielder? I can’t figure it out yet.
Andy Dalton. Overrated and overpaid
Alex Smith. Short passes aside. Has rookie Patrick Mahomes pushing him.
Marcus Mariota. A legit possibility. One to keep an eye on.
Blake Bortles. Sucks. Moving on
Entire New York Jets sacrificial QB lambs. Even worse.
Tyrod Taylor. Only in Season 2 of Ballers.
Deshaun Watson. This ain’t Clemson no more, boy.
Trevor Simien. Are you high?
So, why Oswiler, you’re asking right? As I stated above the Browns have an upgraded offensive line—one of the best in the NFL, talented playmakers on the inside and outside, unlike Houston, in addition to playing one og the easiest schedules and low expectations.
In regarding to the up-coming battle for QB in training camp, while Cody Kessler has shown some improvement in terms of arm strength, at 6’2 with two concussions and a rookie in DeShone Kizer, one can doubt Jackson wanting to place his bets on either.
In addition to having more starting games than both under his belt, as well as experience in two winning cultures in Denver and Houston, at 6’8 and 230 pounds, Big Bad Brock is AFC North tough, and exactly the kind of tall and nimble QB that Cleveland needs.
In a league that has seen players come out of nowhere to make a name and teams go from worst to first, it’s not outside the realm of possibility to see Osweiler have such a Pro Bowl-type turnaround in Cleveland in 2017.