The reason for the Cleveland Browns drafting Dorian Thompson-Robinson is sound but shortsighted

The Cleveland Browns drafted Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but why?

Dorian Thompson-Robinson will likely not last long as a member of the Cleveland Browns. That’s not any judgment on him or his abilities, but just straight math. As I’ve pointed out before, 62.5% of quarterbacks taken after the first round in the 2018 NFL Draft are already out of the league. Over the last four years, 53.3% of the quarterbacks drafted are still on the same team that drafted them.

And that includes the rookies class of 2022. Without them, the number of quarterbacks still on the team that drafted them falls to 36%. Thompson-Robinson may make some highlights, and he may even start a game or two, but if he finds success, historically, it’ll be somewhere else.

So why would the Browns draft him? Well, Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto seems to have the inside track.

Why did the Cleveland Browns draft Dorian Thompson-Robinson

Pluto wrote about what he heard, regarding the Browns’ drafting of Thompson-Robinson and has the following reasons listed for why the Browns drafted Thompson-Robinson;

• He was ranked as the 5th quarterback on their board for the 2023 NFL Draft, only behind Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and presumably Will Levis
• Had experience as a five-year starter at UCLA (48 games)
• Had a solid stat line as a senior; 27 passing TDs, 12 Rushing TDs, 70% completion percentage
• Chip Kelly, his former coach at UCLA, called him a tough kid
• Developing Thompso-Robinson will allow for a cheaper backup long-term.
• Hopes that he’ll develop to be better than Joshua Dobbs.

Yet, it should be noted that even Pluto has his doubts, citing that only 15% of players drafted in the third round or later will become starters in the NFL, while another 20%-30% are special team types. And most of them, regardless, will be gone in three seasons.

So if even Pluto acknowledges that the odds are against Thompson-Robinson, why would the Browns draft him? Moreover, why would the Browns draft him now? Next year, if the Browns want a cheap backup, I get drafting him. But this year? Are the Browns really going to carry three quarterbacks into the season?

That’s the concern that I have, is that they’re going to give a roster spot on the already all-to-rare 53-man roster to a third quarterback, something Kevin Stefanski has not done in his three years as a coach.

The logic behind developing a cheap backup is sound. I support that decision, but the Browns already have three quarterbacks on their roster. Are you ok losing an offensive lineman or a cornerback to make for a project quarterback? I’m not.

Then what’s the alternative? Do you cut Thompson-Robinson, hoping no one else claims him on waivers, just so you can put him on the practice squad? This move would’ve made more sense if the team didn’t re-sign Dobbs.

Now there’s a log jam of mediocre backups. Not the best situation to be in.