We can all finally sleep easier, the Cleveland Browns have finally addressed the painstaking need at…back-up quarterback. With all of the free agency and trade hoopla going on during the first day of free agency, Cleveland decided to snag journeyman Case Keenum. This was probably the easiest prediction considering Keenum worked with current Browns head coach, Kevin Stefanski during his one season of brilliance in Minnesota in 2017.
Name: Case Keenum
Height: 6-1
Weight: 208 pounds
Previous Team: Washington Redskins
Age: 32
Keenum was an undrafted free agent out of Houston in 2012, when the Houston Texans gave him his first shot. Although he didn’t receive a ton of hype during that draft cycle, Keenum had enough of a college resume it was shocking he went undrafted.
Keeping up with his movement around the NFL requires some close attention…
After two seasons in Houston, Keenum was released and signed by the St. Louis Rams in 2014 and placed on their practice squad before finding his way back to Houston for the remainder of 2014. This is shocking, but Keenum was then traded back to St. Louis for the 2015 season and remained on the roster through the 2016 season. After fulfilling his contract, the Minnesota Vikings plucked Keenum up in 2017, where he exploded and took advantage of the quarterback market in 2018 when he signed with the Denver Broncos. Keenum was then traded to Washington for the 2019 season and was the mentor to their first-round selection, Dwayne Haskins.
Despite his extensive and lengthy journeyman resume, Keenum actually has moments of solid quarterback play, including last season leading up to his implosion in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears. Just looking at his statistics, Keenum is a solid option, but he is not good enough to provide any kind of spark. He is battle-tested and appears to be the kind of player that is hard to get rid of, but it is worth mentioning that he was viewed as the third option behind Colt McCoy before McCoy had to have another surgery last season. The biggest trait that has allowed Keenum to last in the NFL this long is his anticipation. He also understands playbooks quickly and can thrive in quick-hitting rhythm offenses.
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Keenum lacks the size you look for in a starting NFL quarterback and I am not just picking on his height; the former Cougar has a small frame. He also has an extremely underwhelming arm as far as strength goes and defenses understand they can focus on the underneath game when Keenum is taking snaps. Keenum also lacks the quick release most offenses covet.
He will be coming in as the back-up quarterback and that is where he will remain. There will be no quarterback competition no matter how often we hear the Stefanski connection. If the Browns are in a position where Keenum has to play, they will lose, but that’s the case with most backups.