Cleveland Browns: If Joe Banner was GM, he’d sign Colin Kaepernick

If former Cleveland Browns executive Joe Banner was still with the team, he’d have added a QB that is still seeking work.

The Cleveland Browns have technically four, but more realistically three options they are going to choose from to start at quarterback. The three-man competition has had its twists and turns from what veteran Brock Osweiler, second-year QB Cody Kessler, and rookie DeShone Kizer have shown.

However, if Joe Banner was still in Cleveland’s front office, I would have added another name to that list. Or at the very least swap a name out for another.

Banner was hired as Cleveland’s CEO in October 2012 but was later fired in June 2014.

Well, he is back in the Browns’ news today. Banner was asked if he was GM for all 32 teams, which teams he would have given the go-ahead to sign free agent Colin Kaepernick. His answer listed two teams, the Browns and the New York Jets.

Banner is not in the position anymore to decide who should be on Cleveland’s roster. That said, the current front office regime is doing a good job building not only the quarterback position, but the whole roster in general.

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Yes, Kaepernick is a better option than many of the quarterbacks currently on rosters. He could easily start for some teams, including the Browns.

Still, there are factors that have led to the current position he is facing with. Cleveland is content with the four quarterbacks on the roster at this time.

Otherwise, if they weren’t, another move would have been made.

Regardless of whether or not you believe Kaepernick deserves another shot is not the focus of this piece.

Instead, it is the fact that despite Banner having failed in Cleveland, he sees the need for an upgrade at QB. Kaepernick can still play but whether he gets a chance or not remains to be seen.

Besides, Kizer or someone else could provide solid play at the position for 2017. If Kizer can do that this year, the future could be even brighter for the organization. Had Banner still been working for the Browns, the four current QBs very likely would not be playing in Cleveland right now.

At the end of the day, are you really that surprised to see Banner mentioning Cleveland as part of his answer given how bad the QB play has been? I am not, but I am hopeful Kizer can be the long-term answer. As a result, all the below average QB play would stop.

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Kaepernick was most recently linked to the Baltimore Ravens. They have yet to offer him a contract and as the days progress, the less likely it appears Baltimore will extend such an offer. Meanwhile, Banner has since moved on from ESPN where he was an analyst.