Two years ago, then-Browns GM John Dorsey set about overhauling the team after the 0-16 finish. Dorsey aggressively hit the trade market, swapping in talent left and right. He added Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor in separate deals, and also made what was considered a stunner at the time.
On this date, March 9th, in 2018, Dorsey dealt away the Browns starting quarterback from 2017, sending DeShone Kizer to the Green Bay Packers. Damarious Randall, a former first-round pick who disappointed while playing out of position in Green Bay, came to Cleveland in return.
The Browns clearly won this exchange. Randall played very well at his natural position of free safety in 2018, instantly elevating the coverage and overall defense. Randall notched a career-high 85 tackles and picked off four passes.
His first season of success in Cleveland did not carry over, unfortunately. Randall was a flighty liability with injury issues in 2019, and he won’t be back in 2020 as a result. But he still contributed more positive snaps and presence to the Browns than the Packers ever got from Kizer.
Kizer’s issues protecting and delivering the football followed him to Green Bay. In his one game of extended playing time with the Packers, the 2018 season finale against the Detroit Lions after Aaron Rodgers tapped out with a minor injury, Kizer completed just 16 of his 35 pass attempts. He threw one interception and had two others dropped.
The Packers dumped Kizer after the 2019 preseason, opting instead to ride with Tim Boyle as Rodgers’ backup. Kizer spent the season on the Raiders bench in Oakland as their third-string QB behind Derek Carr and Mike Glennon.