The offseason is a fantastic time to reflect on the long and absurd NFL season. The clarity provided by hindsight is a powerful tool in the chaotic nature of the season when fans live and die with each passing week. This is the perfect time to grade the play of the Cleveland Browns, specifically Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, and the rest of the quarterbacks.
The quarterback room deserves a D+ after their collective performance this season. The five quarterbacks could not get on the same page as the rest of the offense. Without consistency, the offense faltered in the face of adversity.
The Browns had one of the worst passing offenses in football. The quarterbacks threw for 3,693 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions on 624 pass attempts. Their -0.131 dropback EPA ranked in the bottom five of the NFL.
Joe Flacco had the best statistical output of the quarterbacks. Deshaun Watson was the better quarterback, per analytics. He held the highest EPA and completion percentage over expected.’ Rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and veteran P.J. Walker were among the worst quarterbacks in the NFL.
To the credit of the multiple quarterbacks, they managed games to keep the team battling before leading them to victory in clutch moments. The defense did a fantastic job in giving the Browns’ quarterbacks a giant margin for error. However, the quarterbacks pulled through more often than not.
Here are my grades for the Browns’ quarterbacks this season.
Deshaun Watson: C-
The expectations for Deshaun Watson heading into the season were extremely high. The Browns’ grand investment in Watson needed an even greater return. Those expectations were unrealistic for me as I viewed his return to football as a more challenging prospect.
Watson has played sparingly over the past four years, and defenses have evolved since he last played with the Texans. The quarterback must also adapt to Kevin Stefanski’s under-center system.
This season, Watson couldn’t build cohesion with the offense due to his shoulder injuries. The quarterback knocked off most of the rust caused by his suspension and his season of rest and relaxation. It was brutal and asymmetrical, as most growth is.
Watson recaptured his magic when he led the Browns to victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Despite a bone break in his shoulder joint, Watson played a perfect second half, completing all his passes. Watson’s heroics breathed new life and confidence into the team, which they took to the playoffs.
Overall, his season was below average but incredibly inconsistent. His play varied greatly from jaw-dropping improvisation to headache-inducing decision-making. Watson needs to become a better decision-maker next season. It led to the majority of his underwhelming play this year.
It’s a shame his season ended early due to a freak bone break. I expect he’ll find his stride and become the first 4,000-yard passer in Browns history next season.
Dorian Thompson-Robison: Incomplete
Deshaun Watson’s presence was supposed to save Browns fans from rookie debuts like the one Dorian Thompson-Robinson went through. Thompson-Robinson continued the long-standing tradition of baptism by fire at the hands of a division rival.
Thompson-Robinson started two more games for the Browns. He struggled in both games as he adjusted to the speed of the NFL. The rookie quarterback focused on making the right reads quickly. The process led him to make predetermined decisions based on how the defense lined up before the snap.
The offense got away from him as he rushed to operate it. Plays didn’t have time to breathe as Thompson-Robinson forced quick and errant throws to his targets, who struggled to catch them.
Thompson-Robinson progressed as he grew familiar with the speed of the NFL. Unfortunately, Thompson-Robinson was injured during his third start, effectively ending his season. Hopefully, the young quarterback has learned from this nightmare.
P.J. Walker: D
P.J. Walker was a late addition to the Browns. The eight-year veteran joined the team as a practice squad member after the preseason ended. Six weeks later, he was signed to the team and started against the best team in the NFC.
Walker had a short onboarding period for the Browns, and the inexperience led to most of his bad plays. The quarterback has nearly a decade of professional football under his belt, but he’s never played in the wide-zone offense before his time with the Browns.
While the system is often considered quarterback-proof, its foundations are rooted in operating under-center and with the back facing the defense. Quarterbacks need familiarity with working under center before they have faith to turn their back on play-action passes to sell the run fake.
Walker struggled to find consistency on the field as he grappled with the new offense. The quarterback went 2-1 in his starts, throwing one touchdown and five interceptions. He was uncomfortable all season long.
Much to Walker’s credit, the quarterback found his star receivers when the offense needed a big play. I believe he is a competent backup quarterback, and I would like to see him back in Cleveland. I think an offseason in the wide-zone system will do wonders for his career, as it has with other veterans and backups.
Joe Flacco: B+
The Comeback Player of the Year started six games for the Cleveland Browns. The Super Bowl-winning quarterback joined the team in November and led the team to the playoffs. Under Flacco’s command, the offense was exciting and familiar.
Stefanski dialed up shots for Flacco, as his arm became our offense. Stefanski has never shown a devotion to the passing attack. It makes sense when seeing the ball launched from his hand. Flacco still throws a beautiful pass.
Flacco struggled reading defenses, which capped the offense’s ceiling. Flacco still played exceptionally well, throwing 13 touchdown passes and eight interceptions in his limited playing time.
Flacco deserves a B+ after a strong season. If he played a cleaner brand of football, there would be no doubt in the NFL that he is a capable starting quarterback.
Flacco’s play and leadership exceeded all expectations. He is one of the main reasons why the Browns made it to the playoffs despite the team suffering crippling injuries.
Jeff Driskel: F
The fact that he played in a meaningless game because the Browns clinched a playoff spot is the only thing that can numb how painful it was watching him play. I forgot that’s how most Browns quarterbacks looked before Baker Mayfield. I hope we never see that type of quarterback play again.
