Bailey Zappe, 4th Starting QB For Cleveland Browns This Season, Hopes To Stick Around After Disappointing Loss To Ravens

The Cleveland Browns have long been infamous for quarterback trouble. Since 1999, nearly every quarterback the team has retained, whether drafted, signed or traded for, has struggled mightily and ultimately failed to keep the starting job.

The team, acutely aware of the fact, landed coveted trade piece Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans in 2022 in return for a haul that included three first-round picks, and signed him to the largest contract in NFL history – five years, $230 million.

Stability at last, presumably. Except that, in nearly three years since the signing, Watson has only rocked the ship further.

Watson was suspended for 11 games to start his debut season with the Browns as a result of serious sexual misconduct allegations. He finished the season at 3-3, posting a career-worst passer rating of 79.1, and proceeded to both underperform and suffer season-ending injuries in both 2023 and 2024. Before tearing his Achilles tendon this season, Watson led the Browns to a 1-6 record and the worst yardage offense in the NFL.

With Watson out, backup Jameis Winston has been the primary starter. He’s been successful against divisional opponents, garnering gutsy wins against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, but has struggled outside of the two wins. Winston tossed eight interceptions in his last three starts before being sidelined with a shoulder injury in mid-December.

The third quarterback to start for the Browns this season was Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has struggled even more. He has completed 51.3% of his passes for no touchdowns and six picks over his two starts, where the Browns put up six and three points, respectively.

In the last game of the season, head coach Kevin Stefanski gave fourth-string quarterback Bailey Zappe a start. On Saturday, Zappe completed 16 of 31 passes for 170 yards in a 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He threw one touchdown but also two interceptions.

Zappe, who the Browns signed off the Chiefs’ practice squad in November, has eight career starts, a 63.2% completion percentage, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He will become the fortieth quarterback to start for Cleveland since 1999.

“I’d love to be here. I’d love to play here. I’ve made great relationships here,” Zappe said after the loss. “I believe I can win games here like I have in the past. I just think I see the vision of what [Stefanski] and [Andrew Berry] and all these guys have been here for a long time, the vision that they want this organization to get to.”

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