Drafting Quarterbacks in the 2000's: The Cleveland Brown Curse

The Cleveland Browns have recently released their two main quarterbacks of the previous 3 seasons, ala Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. The general perception in Cleveland by fans and sportswriters now is that they are planning on picking up a new quarterback in this year's draft, and my question is, with Cleveland's history in this last decade of picking up quarterbacks in the draft, is this the best idea for the franchise?

Hopes were high in the 1999 draft. Cleveland was given the #1 draft pick that year, which was used to pick up quarterback Tim Couch (also available in that year's draft was future pro-bowler Donavon McNabb). Couch never quite lived up to fan's expectations, with only one post-season appearance, that was a loss to the Cleveland divisional rival the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the 2002 wild card game.

In the 2004 draft, Cleveland picked up QB Luke McCown. McCown only played in five games (all losses), amassing a 52.6 quarterback rating, and was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Browns then picked up Charlie Frye in the 2005 draft, and over the next three seasons, Frye carried a 51.6 quarterback rating average. Frye was traded to Seattle after the first game of the 2007 season, and non-draft pickup Derek Anderson led the Browns to a 10-6 record, barely missing the play-offs and competing in the 2008 Pro-bowl.

That same year that Frye was released from the Browns, Cleveland picked up Brady Quinn in the first round of the 2007 draft. A Columbus native, Quinn was viewed as the future of the Cleveland Browns. After starter Derek Anderson struggled in the 2008 season, Quinn appeared in three regular season games, winning only one, and injuring his finger. That season the Browns would cycle through four starting quarterbacks, losing three to injury, and finishing the season 4-12.

Quinn would see play in fourteen games, and would produce a 66.8 quarterback rating, with a total of four wins. The highlight of his stay would be the Browns beating the divisional rival Steelers, for the first time since the expansion.

So looking back at the Browns' recent history of Drafting quarterbacks, one would wonder if they will be able to break the "curse", if management decides to allot one of this year's draft picks to an available quarterback. And you would also have to wonder what role recent quarterback pick-ups Seneca Wallace (Seattle Seahawks) and Jake Delhomme (Carolina Panthers) will play this upcoming season, and into the future. Only time will tell.