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DeShone Kizer Will Compete for Browns' Starting QB Job, Hue Jackson Says

Alec Nathan@@AlecBNathanX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistApril 29, 2017

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 19: DeShone Kizer #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish passes against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Notre Dame Stadium on November 19, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Virginia Tech defeated Notre Dame 34-31.(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The Cleveland Browns intend to let DeShone Kizer compete for their starting quarterback job after selecting him in the 2017 NFL draft at No. 52 overall on Friday night in Philadelphia.

"We're going to give all our guys an opportunity to compete," head coach Hue Jackson said, per Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot. "That's what it's all about. It's not about who is the starter, who is this. Let's let these guys get here and learn our offense and spend time with myself and [quarterbacks coach David] Lee and go out on the field, and let's see how it all turns out."    

If the Notre Dame product wants a chance of playing under center for the Browns' Week 1 tilt against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, he'll have to beat out Cody Kessler, Kevin Hogan and possibly Brock Osweiler in a heated quarterback competition. 

Although Osweiler has been at the center of trade rumors ever since he arrived in Cleveland, general manager Sashi Brown said April 19 that he "looks forward" to the former Houston Texans signal-caller competing for the starting job, according to NFL.com's Conor Orr

Kizer, though, would appear to have an athletic edge over those three thanks to his 6'4", 233-pound frame and rocket arm. 

"Obviously, he has the measurables, a big, physical quarterback who can make all the throws that anybody needs to make in the National Football League," Jackson added, per Kay Cabot. "He's intelligent. So he has the characteristics that we're looking for."