'Muddy' QB Situation for Browns Means Brian Hoyer Should Be Re-Signed

The Cleveland Browns do not have a quarterback. They finally have an offensive coordinator, former Oakland Raiders quarterbacks coach, as reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot.

As such, the Browns still have decisions to make this offseason about that most crucial position which will determine the direction of their offense for 2015. And it doesn't help that head coach Mike Pettine ended the year declaring Cleveland's quarterback situation as "muddy at best."

Pettine also added that the majority of the offseason will be spent getting the quarterback position solved, saying, "As far as getting that position right moving forward we'll spend the most amount of time on it and we'll leave no stone unturned."

That opens the possibility that the Browns could look to both free agency and the draft to boost their quarterback ranks, which currently includes 2014 first-round draft pick Johnny Manziel and the undrafted Connor Shaw. 

There is one free agent, however, that would seem to have the advantage over all takers—Brian Hoyer, the Browns' starting quarterback for the first 14 games of the 2014 season. However, Pettine was hesitant to say whether Hoyer will be re-signed by Cleveland, saying:

"

Brian did some really good things for us. I don't know where Brian is with Cleveland and I'll be very interested to hear where we are from an organizational standpoint. Personally, I have a very good relationship with Brian. He was a big part of our success this year, but I don't know if the circumstances can come together for him to be back here next year.

"

However, with the quarterback situation completely up in the air, it would serve the Browns well to give Hoyer a new contract rather than letting him ply his trade elsewhere when free agency begins in March.

It's not that Hoyer is the solution to the Browns' quarterback woes. It's not that Manziel won't be ready by the time the next season kicks off. It's not that Shaw shows too little promise to be considered a starter. And it's not that the Browns may be able to find someone worth competing for the job via other free agents or the draft.

But Hoyer does offer continuity. He offers experience. He gives the new coordinator, as yet to be named, a quarterback who has started 17 games in the NFL. He's worth re-signing to compete for at least a roster spot, if not the staring job, for another season. Whether he wins it or is the backup does not matter. The Browns just need him to be there.

Player	Games Start	Atts.	Comp.	Comp.%	Yds.	TD	INT
Hoyer	14	438	242	55.3%	3,326	12	13
Manziel	2	35	18	51.4%	175	0	2
Shaw	1	28	14	50.0%	177	0	1

Hoyer completed only 55.3 percent of his 438 pass attempts through 14 games in 2014, for 3,326 yards, 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions before being benched in favor of Manziel. Manziel didn't fare better, with 18 completions on 35 attempts, for 175 yards, one rushing and no passing touchdowns and two interceptions.

A hamstring injury to Manziel—and a shoulder injury to Hoyer—led to the Browns starting Shaw in Week 17. Shaw completed 14 of 28 pass attempts in that one showing, for 177 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

It's safe to say that none of the three were impressive, though each quarterback's sample size was relatively small.

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Though it's likely that the goal is to get Manziel as up to speed as possible and have him start in 2015, Pettine did note that "It's still very early to tell what [Manziel's] future holds for us.'' Manziel is not guaranteed the job, as Pettine also made clear by saying, "[T]here's no sense of entitlement for where he was drafted therefore he is the starter."

There is no financial reason holding the Browns back from re-signing Hoyer. They have approximately $30 million in salary-cap space in 2015, granted that the cap is $138.6 million, as projected by Spotrac. The Browns could find a middle ground with Hoyer, a way to pay him a reasonable amount should he win the starting job again but not too much to keep significant cash on the bench for the year if he does not.

That assumes, of course, that no other suitors will come along promising Hoyer a starting job elsewhere. But barring a bidding war, one that is less likely to take place than it seemed in September or October, the Browns should not have trouble negotiating with Hoyer. 

There is no reason for the Browns to completely alter their quarterback room this offseason. There are arguments to be made for adding to the trio they had in 2014, but not for subtracting. Not when there's a new offense to be installed. 

Hoyer, for his flaws, provides leadership, experience and a competitive nature that will push every Cleveland quarterback vying for the starting job. Just because he gets a new contract does not mean he will be under center when Week 1 of the 2015 season kicks off.

But if the Browns truly don't want to leave any stone unturned in their search for a quarterback, then re-signing Hoyer should be part of that process.