Did the Cleveland Browns end up with the best quarterback depth in the entire league this season? They wound up starting not one, not two, but five different starters.
Any other NFL team that has to cycle through that many QBs during the season would’ve likely pointed to that team tanking. But through the constant musical chairs, the Browns still produced 11 wins. Looking back, who all earned snaps, and who ended up with the best production?
Busy Cleveland Browns QB Depth Chart
It began with Deshaun Watson. The season ended with Jeff Driskel.
But somewhere in the middle was an intriguing rookie in Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Then free agent signing P.J. Walker got snaps. Finally, a potential NFL Comeback Player of the Year winner — plus former AFC North rival — came along in former Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco.
Never in NFL history has a team started five different passers, yet still managed to make the playoffs. The Browns hold that unique distinction.
It’s almost as if Cleveland was secretly holding open tryouts for quarterbacks every other week. But when there’s a myriad of injuries behind center, then it becomes easy to see why they had to roll with a cycle of passers.
Except Flacco was rewarded with some rest for Week 18 after coming off the couch to lead Cleveland into the playoffs. That opened the door for Driskel to get elevated to starter for the final regular-season game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Which of Cleveland’s 5 QBs Put Up the Best Numbers?
Now comes the fun part — who put up the best stats out of all five? Also, which ones earned a significant win?
Here’s a look back at what all five were able to accomplish when head coach Kevin Stefanski and the Browns called upon them.
Deshaun Watson
The original QB1 for Cleveland ended up with the most victories among the starters with five. The $230 million man won his last four starts with Cleveland, which included a 33-31 road win over the AFC’s top seed the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 12.
Watson had to undergo shoulder surgery to close out his season in November and ended with 1,115 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions.
PJ Walker
The 28-year-old veteran backup ended up going 1-1 as a starter. Walker was the starter behind the Browns’ 19-17 upset of the NFC’s top seed, San Francisco 49ers. He racked up 674 yards but threw fewer touchdowns (one) than interceptions (five). Like Watson, Walker’s season involved a shoulder ailment.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
DTR was able to show both his arm and mobility in three starts and went 1-2. Thompson-Robinson, though, won over the Dawg Pound by leading the Browns past their hated rival the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 19.
DTR ended his rookie campaign with 440 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions, but his season got halted with a head injury.
Joe Flacco
Consider Flacco the man who saved the Browns’ season. The Super Bowl-winning QB with the Ravens went 4-1 as a starter — and his fourth victory sealed the playoff berth for the Browns against the New York Jets.
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Flacco ended up delivering four straight 300-yard games, including the 386 he threw on Christmas Eve against the team he’ll start against on Saturday, the Houston Texans.
Jeff Driskel
Again, Driskel was a last-minute elevation to rest up Flacco. He went 13 of 26 for 166 yards and tossed two touchdowns but was picked off twice in the 31-14 loss to Cincy.
Overall, Watson was the one who set the tone for the Browns’ playoff run before his injury. Walker and Thompson-Robinson earned significant wins, but it was Flacco who kept Cleveland’s season going with his impressive string of outings.
For what it’s worth, Cleveland won’t need to turn to a sixth starter ahead of the Texans game. The starter reins is reserved for the man who became the fourth QB option in Flacco.
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