DeShone Kizer: The Lone Starting Rookie Quarterback
By Jon Dove
Every year there are typically a few rookie quarterbacks that are able to seize a starting job out of training camp, but this year only DeShone Kizer can make that claim.
DeShone Kizer entered training camp with a legitimate shot at winning the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback job. His competition consisted of Brock Osweiler, Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan.
Of this group, Kizer arguably has the best physical skills. His features a combination of ideal size, a strong throwing arm and good mobility. Kizer’s biggest flaw entering the draft was his ability to process information.
He has shown throughout the preseason an improvement in this area. A lot of that has to do with the coaching he is receiving. Hue Jackson and company have a long history of developing a strong game plan for their quarterbacks.
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Kizer winning the job is a great situation for the Browns. They can now feel out his overall long-term potential before next year’s quarterback-heavy draft.
Cleveland owns two 1st round picks in the 2018 NFL Draft and could grab a quarterback with one of those picks if Kizer fails. Next year’s draft features big-name quarterbacks like Wyoming’s Josh Allen, USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph.
Kizer’s run as the only starting rookie quarterback may not last very long. Deshaun Watson, Mitch Trubisky and Nathan Peterman put some pressure on the their team’s current starters.
Tom Savage is going to have a very short leash with the Houston Texans. Bill O’Brien and company didn’t trade a future 1st round pick to keep Watson on the bench. It’s only a matter of time before they make the switch.
Trubisky’s situation is a little more cloudy. He had a strong preseason, but the Chicago Bears are set on giving Mike Glennon a shot at running the show. They paid starter’s money and want to ease Trubisky into the lineup.
Peterman has an outside shot of taking over for Tyrod Taylor with the Buffalo Bills. Taylor is the more talented player, but the Bills are in a rebuild. It wouldn’t be a major surprise if Buffalo traded Taylor in the next few weeks.