Just one year ago, quarterback Brock Osweiler had done enough in seven career starts and 14 relief appearances to earn a four-year, $72 million contract on the free-agent market.He might not have possessed the type of resume you'd expect for a potential franchise quarterback, butthe former second-round pick had a 10-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 5-2 record as a part-time starter on a Super Bowl-winning Denver Broncos team in 2015.A skyscraper fitted with a howitzer, Osweiler's ceiling was high enough at the age of 25 that it was easy to understand why somebodyin this case, Houston Texans general manager Rick Smithwas willing to roll the dice.One year later, Osweiler is coming off a disappointing season in which he completed fewer than 60 percent of his passes, threw more picks (16) than touchdowns (15) and posted the NFL's second-lowest qualified passer rating (72.2). As a result, the Texans have already given up on him.Technically, Osweiler is now a member of the Cleveland Browns, but that might be temporary. On the first day of the new league year, the Texans essentially bribed Cleveland with a 2018 second-round draft pick so that the Browns would absorbOsweiler's bloated salary with cap space they wouldn't have used anyway.Initial reports indicated the trade was a financial transaction, and the Browns haven't done much to dispel the notion that it was anything other than a salary dump. The team's press release announcing the deal mentioned the second-round pick before referencing Osweiler, and a quote provided by executive vice-president of football operations Sashi Brown indicated that was no accident."We're really excited to acquire a second-round draft choice in this trade," Brown said. "Draft picks are extremely important to our approach in building a championship-caliber football team. We are intent on adding competition to every position on our roster and look forward to having Brock come in and compete."And in a recent interview with NFL Network, Browns head coach Hue Jackson didn't sound any more confident that Osweiler would remain in the fold for long."Obviously, he's a player on our team and we're going to treat him just like we do all of our other quarterbacks until he's not," Jackson said, per NFL.com's Jeremy Bergman. "He's a guy that's gonna come in and compete. We haven't had an opportunity to meet with him from a football standpoint because of the rules. But once we start our offseason program, phase one, we'll get a chance to know him and he'll get to know us."Until he's not.But, again, this is a guy who just one year ago was one of the hottest commodities on the open market. And he's still only 26. In NFL quarterback terms, he's a baby. When Steve Young was Osweiler's age, he was a backup in San Francisco. At the same point, Tony Romo had yet to make his first NFL start. Kurt Warner was playing arena football.Was Osweiler terrible in 2016' Absolutely. Do I think he has what it takes to redeem himself in a significant way' Not really. But is he the best quarterback on the Cleveland roster' Probably.The only other quarterbacks in Cleveland are 2016 rookies Cody Kessler (a third-round pick who lost all eight of his starts last season) and Kevin Hogan (a fifth-round pick who posted a 31.6 rating in four appearances).The more physically gifted and experienced Osweiler would have a good chance at beating out both of those guys. He might be the lesser of three evils. And, yes, that could change if/when the Browns use a high draft pick on a signal-caller, but there are no clear-cut, NFL-ready, blue-chip quarterbacks in this draft.It's very possible that when the season gets underway in the second week of September, Osweiler will give the Browns a better chance to win than anybody else on their quarterback depth chart.Even if he were to win the starting job, he might wind up losing it. Even if he were to hold on to it, he probably wouldn't take the Browns to the playoffs. But if Osweiler can do more for you than Kessler or Hogan or a draft pick to be identified later, don't you owe it to your fans to keep him around'Remember, cutting Osweiler now doesn't save the Browns a dime. His 2017 salary is a sunk cost, and they'll reap the benefits with that 2018 second-round pick. Anything they get from Osweiler is gravy, but they can essentially keep him for free.Cleveland might have won just one game while hindered by an offense that averaged a conference-low 16.5 points per game in 2016, but don't let that fool you into believing the 2017 season is already lost.Earlier this month, the Browns signed arguably the top two offensive linemen on the free-agent market. That line has now become an asset, rather than a significant liability. They also signed a new No. 1 receiver in Kenny Britt, a 28-year-old former first-round pick coming off a breakout season.The Browns have Britt and 2016 first-rounder Corey Coleman out wide, along with 2015 Pro Bowler Gary Barnidge at tight end. They have Joe Thomas, Kevin Zeitler, JC Tretter and Joel Bitonio anchoring a revamped O-line, and 24-year-old running backIsaiah Crowell coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 4.8 yards per carry.That offense is no longer a punchline, and it could get a heck of a lot better in next month's draft. Same goes for the defense if they use the No. 1 overall pick on this class' consensus top player, defensive end Myles Garrett.Browns season tickets cost a minimum of $225, or $585 if you want to sit in the lower level. Paying customers want to see this team make progress. They want to see it win games. That's plural.If Brock Osweiler can help them do that, he has to remain on the roster.Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012.
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