It looks like the Browns are in a mood to rearrange their crowded quarterback room. After the team traded DeShone Kizer, did trading for Tyrod Taylor and signing a contract with Drew Stanton, the Browns have now traded former third-round pick Cody Kessler to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a conditional seventh-round pick in the year 2019. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network first reported this trade, and the team later confirmed the news.
Kessler began eight games all in his rookie year and had appeared in a total of 12 games for the Browns. He has completed 63.8% of his passes, thrown six touchdowns, averaged 6.9 yards and has accumulated an 87.4 passer rating. These are however not a horrible number considering he was looked upon as a developmental prospect.
Don’t consider his 0-8 record as a starter against Kessler as the Browns have gone 1-31 in the past two seasons. Although the Jaguars needed a new quarterback, the Browns did not need to rope in Kessler considering they already have Taylor. The Browns will have Drew Stanton, Taylor and Kevin Hogan in this year’s draft already.
Kessler seems like the biggest winner in all of this. He has not only got a promotion but has also got the chance to be a backup to a quarterback who has worked hard and struggled a lot through his career. So if Kessler performs well as the Jaguars’ starter in the next season, then he will be in a much better situation than when he was in Cleveland.
Kessler will have the chance to play in a run-first in Jacksonville. All of this alone is a huge upgrade for Kessler. Talking about the trade, Browns coach Hue Jackson, who has worked with Kessler for two seasons, said that Kessler has a tremendous career and bid him goodbye.
