Browns all-in on 2014, but still a Gamble

After trading Trent Richardson for a first round pick and making it very clear the organization is not content with their quarterback situation, the Cleveland Browns seem to be already looking to 2014. The Browns come to the Metrodome not really looking to pick up their first win of the season, the message they seem to be sending is that they would much rather lose to try to ensure a high 2014 draft selection. Unfortunately for the Browns, the player they traded is a much more proven commodity in the NFL than any player they will select in 2014. The draft is always a gamble and sometimes you lose. Browns fans are no stranger to this, as so far they are the team that drew the short straw in the 2012 quarterback class, Brandon Weeden. Sometimes there's more than just one short straw though, as evidenced by the quarterback class of 2011.

Unlike the class of 2012, it seems like all but one of the straws in 2011 may be short. Cam Newton had a sensational rookie year, but is still struggling to bring his franchise wins. Andy Dalton is serviceable, but even with a large amount of talent around him he still hasn't developed into an above-average starter. Blaine Gabbert performed bad enough for Jaguars fans to start clamoring for Tim Tebow. Jake Locker's accuracy still isn't any better, and he's barely averaging over five yards per pass attempt. Christian Ponder, sadly, looks like he has been vastly overdrafted. Most would say the one bright spot in this class in Colin Kaepernick, who has already started a Super Bowl, but he was taken last out of this group and was very raw coming out of college. It's very possible that if Kaepernick was taken by another team and didn't get the chance to be trained by Jim Harbaugh he could be just another disappointment on this list. On the year so far, this group of quarterbacks is completing less than 60% of their passes, thrown twelve interceptions to only 13 touchdowns, and is averaging a 73.2 quarterback rating. Their teams are also a combined 3-11 with them as starters this year.

Only one year separates the 2011 class with a class that looks like in includes four potential long term answers at quarterback. Browns fans can do nothing else but wait for 2014, but the big question is, what kind of year will it be?