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Taylor has Browns on the upswing

Cleveland lands viable starting quarterback

The Browns aren’t going winless this year. After adding Tyrod Taylor and Jarvis Landry (and with two picks in the top 4) I’m not even sure they’re finishing in last in their division.

Landry, picked up in a low-cost trade with the Dolphins, gives one of the league’s best slot receivers. Combine him with Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman, and they might have one of the best trios of wide receivers in the league. (They’ve just got to find a way to keep Gordon on the field and develop Coleman some.)

But this is a quarterback-driven league, and that’s what makes the trade for Taylor key. He represents a huge upgrade over what they’ve been using there in recent years.

Taylor might not ever develop into an above-average passer, but he’s a lot better than Cody Kessler and DeShone Kizer. Taylor is a big threat as a runner, takes care of the football and might be the league’s most underrated deep-ball passer.

In terms of avoiding interceptions and fumbles, the Browns just made a worst-to-first type transaction. Over the last three years, 39 quarterbacks have totaled at least 500 plays (that’s combined rushing and passing attempts). Of that group, Kizer has been the worst at turning over the ball, at almost 5 percent (1 per every 21 plays).

Taylor on the turnover chart has been the best in the league, averaging 1 per every 73 plays – slightly ahead of even Tom Brady and Alex Smith. Taylor isn’t great, but he doesn’t beat himself, and that represents a huge upgrade for this franchise.

QUARTERBACK TURNOVERS SINCE 2015
PlayerPlaysFumIntTOPct
Tyrod Taylor1,643516231.40%
Tom Brady1,812517271.49%
Alex Smith1,764520281.59%
Jacoby Brissett66147131.97%
Brian Hoyer856411171.99%
Aaron Rodgers1,672921342.03%
Drew Brees1,994634412.06%
Russell Wilson1,981830442.22%
Matthew Stafford1,9891133452.26%
Derek Carr1,810932432.38%
Teddy Bridgewater540310132.41%
Cam Newton1,963740482.45%
Andy Dalton1,686927422.49%
Matt Ryan1,8721035472.51%
Colin Kaepernick75349192.52%
Sam Bradford1,245819322.57%
Case Keenum1,049419272.57%
Dak Prescott1,120717292.59%
Joe Flacco1,769540472.66%
Kirk Cousins1,8881136532.81%
Jared Goff769514222.86%
Philip Rivers1,957844562.86%
Blaine Gabbert766319222.87%
Nick Foles548412162.92%
Eli Manning1,9191343593.07%
Blake Bortles2,0301447633.10%
Carson Palmer1,541632483.11%
Carson Wentz1,218621383.12%
Trevor Siemian958424303.13%
Ben Roethlisberger1,656343523.14%
Brock Osweiler1,082327343.14%
Ryan Tannehill1,120624363.21%
Andrew Luck991625323.23%
Marcus Mariota1,5161234503.30%
Jay Cutler1,177730413.48%
Jameis Winston1,7781544633.54%
Ryan Fitzpatrick1,281335463.59%
Josh McCown9981419363.61%
DeShone Kizer591622284.74%

If the Browns select Saquon Barkley with one of those top-4 picks, then I think we can all start getting really excited about the direction of that offense. It’s going to be a vastly improved unit even if they don’t select a running back with one of those picks.

As for Kizer, he’s been shipped off to Green Bay. The Packers want to see if they can develop him behind Aaron Rodgers. They can start by trying to coach him into taking better care of the ball. With his numerous interceptions and fumbles, the Browns finished minus-28 in takeaways last year, worst by any team since Ryan Leaf was the primary quarterback for the Chargers in 2000.

In today’s game, it’s hard to overcome interceptions and fumbles. In the last 10 years, 36 teams have averaged over 2 turnovers per game, and only four of those teams finished with winning records.

MOST TURNOVERS, LAST 10 YEARS
YearTeamIntFumTotW-L
2013NY Giants2915447-9
2010NY Giants25174210-6
2017Cleveland2813410-16
2009Detroit329412-14
2011Tampa Bay2416404-12
2010Buffalo2118394-12
2011Philadelphia2513388-8
2012Kansas City2017372-14
2012Philadelphia1522374-12
2012NY Jets1918376-10
2010Carolina2116372-14
2010Minnesota2611376-10
2014Philadelphia21153610-6
2009Arizona18183610-6
2016San Diego2114355-11
2011Washington2411355-11
2010Arizona1916355-11
2008San Francisco1916357-9
2017Denver2212345-11
2016NY Jets259345-11
2013Washington1915343-13
2013Detroit1915347-9
2012Arizona2113345-11
2012Buffalo1717346-10
2011NY Jets1816348-8
2010Cincinnati2014344-12
2009Tampa Bay295343-13
2009Chicago277347-9
2015Tennessee1716333-13
2015Dallas2211334-12
2014Tampa Bay2013332-14
2012Detroit1716334-12
2010Jacksonville2112338-8
2009St. Louis2112331-15
2009Oakland1815335-11
2008Dallas2013339-7

—Ian Allan

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