DeShone Kizer gets the chance to lead the Browns back from oblivion

The Cleveland Browns will start their 27th quarterback since 1999. After a spirited preseason competition between Cody Kessler, Brock Osweiler, and DeShone Kizer, it was Kizer who stood out enough to earn the starting role for the team’s regular season opener against the Steelers, the team announced Sunday.

Coach Hue Jackson’s decision puts plenty of trust in a player whose career has been more potential than production. Kizer burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman at Notre Dame, leading the Fighting Irish to the Fiesta Bowl and throwing 21 touchdown passes. His follow-up wasn’t as successful; the storied program fell to 4-8 as Kizer’s accuracy and efficiency both dropped.

He was projected to be a potential first-round pick after declaring for the draft, but a handful of unimpressive workouts led him to the Browns in the second round. Against conventional logic, his stock rose once he arrived in Cleveland. While he struggled with second-rate pass rushes and made plays against second-team secondaries, there’s no denying Kizer has the kind of big-play potential Kessler and Osweiler lack.

Kizer’s preseason performance was impressive in Weeks 1 and 2. He completed 19 of 31 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown, and he added a touchdown on the ground. But it’s worth acknowledging that Kizer’s success earlier in the preseason largely came against backups.

As the starter in Week 3, Kizer’s performance was a bit more up and down. He finished the Browns’ win over the Buccaneers having completed just 33 percent of his passes for 18 yards, one pick, and no touchdowns. But Kizer’s receivers let him down with dropped balls, and his poise didn’t waver.

Kizer could present a host of problems. Jackson is familiar with the growing pains of breaking in a new quarterback — he did it last year with Kessler, who went 0-8 as a starter. Kizer’s big arm doesn’t always lead to success, and his willingness to take big risks could backfire facing a major step up in competition against the Steelers. While he has more potential than any other passer on the roster, he may be better served by a slow transition to the top spot on the depth chart.

Veteran left tackle Joe Thomas said not long ago that he didn’t believe Kizer was ready to be the starter, and according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Kizer agrees.

“He’s been in the NFL since I’ve been in seventh grade, so whatever he says is probably pretty accurate,” Kizer said.

But Thomas changed his tune.

“Everyone always asks me about quarterbacks,” Thomas said via Cabot. “I always say I don’t really know anything about quarterbacks, and I proved it in this case. So I’m sure he’ll get a laugh out of that maybe.”

Hue Jackson believes Kizer is ready, so Kizer will get his shot.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Osweiler and Kessler can get too comfortable as backups. The Browns have traditionally employed a carousel approach to their starting role, whether due to injury or ineffective play. Five quarterbacks took snaps behind center for the team in 2016 — Kessler, Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Charlie Whitehurst, and Kevin Hogan.

Cleveland has invested heavily in a turnaround, jettisoning veterans while adding scores of young talent through the draft. A rookie-heavy roster isn’t likely to compete for a playoff spot in 2017, but this season will set the foundation for change in one of the league’s most beleaguered franchises. Kizer is now the captain of that ship, entrusted to guide the offense through nearly two decades of rough waters and into port.

That’s a lot to ask for, but if the Browns are going to stop being the Browns, it’s something Kizer will have to do.