It’s becoming increasingly apparent that Jacoby Brissett is going to start a bunch of games for the Browns this year. All of the bridges between the team and Baker Mayfield have been burned, and Deshaun Watson is facing a lengthy suspension. It will be Brissett under center in a lot of games (gulp).
A report yesterday by Mark Maske of The Washington Post indicates that the league will seek a year-long suspension of Deshaun Watson, who’s been named in 26 civil cases by massage therapists alleging sexual misconduct. That’s not official yet, and Watson would have a chance to appeal, but it’s looking like it will be a surprise if Watson plays in even half the upcoming season.
The situation with Mayfield is so toxic, it’s unlikely he’ll be with the team. He was excused from their recent workouts. They signed Brissett to a one-year deal for $4.6 million (above-average for a backup), and he’ll be starting.
Trouble is, Brissett is a limited, game-manager type. A lesser version of Alex Smith or Teddy Bridgewater, if you will. When he’s out there, he’s tending to settle for the safe completions, seemingly more interested in avoiding mistakes rather than trying to challenge defenses.
When Brissett started 15 games for the Colts in both the 2019 and 2017 seasons, he threw only 6 and 7 interceptions, but he also averaged only about 200 passing yards, with 18 and 13 touchdowns. He’s just not good enough.
In the last five years, 21 quarterbacks have started at least 15 games in a season and averaged fewer than 230 passing yards. Brissett has done it twice (and in both of the seasons he’s been a regular starter).
Definitely a backup rather than a starter, and I wouldn’t think the Browns can avoid averaging bottom-5 passing numbers when he’s on the field.
| QUARTERBACKS UNDER 230 YARDS/G (last 5 yrs) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | St | Yd/PG | TD | Int |
| 2020 | Cam Newton, N.E. | 15 | 177.1 | 8 | 10 |
| 2020 | Lamar Jackson, Balt. | 15 | 183.8 | 26 | 9 |
| 2017 | DeShone Kizer, Clev. | 15 | 192.9 | 11 | 22 |
| 2019 | Josh Allen, Buff. | 16 | 193.1 | 20 | 9 |
| 2019 | Jacoby Brissett, Ind. | 15 | 196.1 | 18 | 6 |
| 2017 | Joe Flacco, Balt. | 16 | 196.3 | 18 | 13 |
| 2017 | Jacoby Brissett, Ind. | 15 | 203.1 | 13 | 7 |
| 2017 | Cam Newton, Car. | 16 | 206.4 | 22 | 16 |
| 2017 | Andy Dalton, Cin. | 16 | 207.5 | 25 | 12 |
| 2017 | Dak Prescott, Dall. | 16 | 207.8 | 22 | 13 |
| 2019 | Lamar Jackson, Balt. | 15 | 208.5 | 36 | 6 |
| 2019 | Mitchell Trubisky, Chi. | 15 | 209.2 | 17 | 10 |
| 2021 | Carson Wentz, Ind. | 17 | 209.6 | 27 | 7 |
| 2021 | Jalen Hurts, Phil. | 15 | 209.6 | 16 | 9 |
| 2021 | Trevor Lawrence, Jac. | 17 | 214.2 | 12 | 17 |
| 2017 | Marcus Mariota, Ten. | 15 | 215.5 | 13 | 15 |
| 2018 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | 16 | 215.5 | 35 | 7 |
| 2021 | Ryan Tannehill, Ten. | 17 | 219.6 | 21 | 14 |
| 2021 | Taylor Heinicke, Was. | 15 | 219.8 | 19 | 15 |
| 2020 | Baker Mayfield, Cle. | 16 | 222.7 | 26 | 8 |
| 2021 | Mac Jones, N.E. | 17 | 223.6 | 22 | 13 |
—Ian Allan