Rookie SWOT: Cody Kessler

Trevor Bucher Posted On May 28, 2016

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Name: Cody Kessler

Position: Quarterback

Pro team: Cleveland Browns

College team: University of Southern California

Draft Status: Round Three, Pick 31. #93 overall

Video Highlights

[youtube id=”lohYq2rRAik”]

Combine Review

Height: 6’1” (5th percentile)

Weight: 220 pounds (39th percentile)

Hands: 10 7/8” (98th percentile)

Arm Length: 32 5/8” (64th percentile)

40-Yard Dash: 4.89 seconds (36th percentile)

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.00 seconds (98th percentile)

Vertical: 29.5” (24th percentile)

Broad: 104” (16th percentile)

Strengths

Accurate passer
Reads through progressions effectively
Above average mobility
Throws catchable balls
Rarely makes mistakes
Knows when to stand in pocket and when to move

Weaknesses

Limited, but adequate arm strength
Short for an NFL quarterback
Can struggle under pressure
Not a risk taker down the field

Opportunities

The Browns quarterback situation is unsettled at best. He has a tough, but surmountable, set of obstacles in front of him. The Browns have been upgrading their skill position players the past several years, grabbing Corey Coleman along with a bevy of other receivers in the 2016 draft as well as Duke Johnson in the 2015 draft. Add in that they struck gold with the aging Gary Barnidge and that there is a possibility of Josh Gordon returning to the team eventually, and it is easy to get excited about this team’s potential. Kessler could be the beneficiary of these skill position players, especially considering new coach Hue Jackson appears high on him and is quoted as saying “you have to trust me on this one.” With Jackson’s track record as an offensive coach, there is ample room for production.

Threats

Kessler has three primary threats. Robert Griffin III is first and foremost after signing with the team for a significant pay check this offseason. Griffin as the talent needed to be a superstar in this league, but has yet to – and may never – put it all together. Should Griffin falter, Josh McCown is likely next in line at quarterback for the Browns. At worst, McCown is serviceable despite being fairly old for the NFL at age 36. His third threat is simply that he plays for the Browns. Perhaps no team runs through quarterbacks faster. It is possible that he never truly gets a shot to be “the guy” in Cleveland before they spend yet another high draft pick on a quarterback under yet another new regime.

Short-term Expectations

In the short term, expect Kessler to sit on the bench behind Griffin and McCown. If he starts any games in the next year or two, consider it a bonus. He really isn’t expected to do much anytime soon. In the event that he does get some early starts, it would be prudent to expect QB3 type performances out of him.

Long-term Expectations

It is possible that Kessler fits what the Browns are looking for in the quarterback position, and it isn’t terribly difficult to imagine a scenario in which he turns out to be the quarterback of the future for the team. We all know the long list of high draft picks wasted by the Browns organization on quarterbacks. Maybe, just maybe, they have struck gold with Kessler under Hue Jackson’s careful leadership. On the flip side, he could turn out to be nothing more than a career backup. Or simply nothing, and he will be out of the league in a few years. Given his draft position, I’ll put my money on him falling somewhere between quarterback of the future and career backup – producing when given opportunity but also given a short leash.

NFL Player Comparison

NFL.com has the comparable player listed as Aaron Murray. That likely isn’t a bad comparison, but it doesn’t help to give an idea of Kessler’s long term upside. If everything works out perfectly for him, I think he could develop into a Alex Smith or Andy Dalton type of quarterback. He isn’t as athletic as Smith and he likely won’t have the fantasy upside of Dalton, but at his core he is a game manager that will get the job done and not make crushing mistakes.

Rookie Draft Advice

The good news is that May Rookie ADP has Cody Kessler at the virtually free price tag of 61st in ADP, going in the very tail end of rookie drafts. Even if you don’t have a pick this year, there is a chance you can land him as an UDFA in your league, or you can pay the minimal price required to move into the back of your draft and acquire him.

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Trevor Bucher

Writer at Dynasty League Football

Trevor is a Florida State and Ball State alumnus with degrees in Asian Studies and History. He forecasts service part demand for the auto industry and moonlights as a dynasty aficionado. His takes on fantasy are typically rooted in statistics, history, and metrics, but he is open to the occasional gut feeling. You can follow him @evorzan for tweets about football and the occasional video game or anime reference.