Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer could start next season as the team’s stopgap quarterback, since the Browns are guaranteed to take a quarterback in this year’s draft class. New GM Ray Farmer has hinted at the Browns possibly trading down and getting a less-heralded option at the position, but I think most of us are skeptical of Farmer’s talk of a “curveball” and believe that the Browns have a better chance of trading up than trading down. Johnny Manziel and Derek Carr will probably be their two choices at QB with the fourth pick, but I’m sure they will hope that either Teddy Bridgewater or Blake Bortles will fall to them. Will they be willing to trade up to secure their guy? That all depends on who and how sure they are of that QB succeeding.
But one thing remains certain at the QB position: Brian Hoyer is locked in as either a dependable backup or a stopgap starter. Every QB in this draft class besides Bridgewater would probably be best off sitting on the bench and learning the ropes in their rookie season, because guys like Bortles, Carr, and Manziel have the tools but have varying holes in their game. Hoyer allows the Browns to start someone who can hold things together while allowing their rookies to sit. It’s not ideal to bench a rookie QB with a top-five pick pedigree, but the Browns have the support system in place to do that if needed.
Hoyer seems to have plenty of admirers within the Browns organization, and it sounds like you can add new head coach Mike Pettine to that list.
He said, via the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin, “I’ve always admired Brian from afar. He’s proven he can be successful in the NFL, but at the same time, you’re always looking to make the team better and that’s the most important position.”