Player: Cody Kessler
Position: Quarterback
School: Southern California
Draft Status: Third Round, 93rd Pick (Cleveland Browns)
Competition for Starting Job: Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown
Dynasty Rookie Quarterback Ranking: #6
College Stats | Year | Class | Comp % | Yards | TD | INT |
| 2012 | Freshman | 100.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | Sophomore | 65.4 | 2,968 | 20 | 7 |
| 2014 | Junior | 69.7 | 3,826 | 39 | 5 |
| 2015 | Senior | 66.8 | 3,536 | 29 | 7 |
| Totals | Four Years | 67.5 | 10,339 | 88 | 19 |
A three-year starter for the Trojans, Kessler heads into the NFL with more experience than most college quarterbacks. He ended his USC career as the program's third-ranked player in passing yards (10,339) and passing touchdowns (88). He also led the program back to national relevance after the whole Pete Carroll/Reggie Bush drama that cost USC postseason football for a couple years.
For Kessler, his ability to take over for Matt Barkley as a sophomore and not look back has to be his biggest attribute heading into the NFL.
As a sophomore in 2013, Kessler led USC to a 10-4 mark and a win over Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl. That season culminated with him putting up 345 yards and four touchdowns in the 45-20 win over the Bulldogs.
It is, however, as a junior that Kessler jumped on to the national scene, putting up the best performance for a quarterback in the country. His near 9-to-1 touchdown/interception ratio was tops among power five quarterbacks, cementing his status as one of the most-productive signal callers in the nation. Even in USC's four losses that season, Kessler compiled eight scores and two interceptions, including a four-touchdown outing in a disappointing 41-31 loss to Boston College.
Despite Kessler's tremendous career, the USC football team never reached the height of the Pac 10, failing to win the conference in any of his three seasons. His career ended in a whimper following a 23-21 loss to Wisconsin in the Holiday Bowl in 2015.
Scouting Report
Strengths: Accuracy remains Kessler's biggest attribute, as evidenced by his completion percentage in college. And while a lot of that had to do with him relying on check-downs, this is one area that Kessler can excel in at the next level. A plus-level ability to progress past his primary read coupled with tremendous pocket awareness makes Kessler pro-ready out of the gate.
Weaknesses: Mechanics breaks down in face of pressure. Accuracy is an issue outside of the pocket and when on the run. Doesn't possess functional arm strength. Afraid to take that chance down the field. Doesn't show trust in his arm. Has issues with footwork when forced to jump up in the pocket. Accuracy is an issue beyond 15 yards down the field.
2015 Outlook
There's a decent chance Kessler could find himself starting as a rookie. A lot of this is going to depend on how Robert Griffin III performs during training camp. The veteran free-agent signing will surely be given an opportunity to earn the starting job.
If Kessler does come out on top, there's still no reason to pick him up as anything more than a bottom end QB3 should you be forced to carry that third quarterback. By virtue of starting, he would be a top-32 fantasy quarterback. Though, he'd then be among the worst fantasy starters in the NFL, right up there with the likes of Blaine Gabbert and Carson Wentz, should they earn the starting gigs for their teams.
If the USC product does in fact start, he'd likely find himself as the second-best fantasy rookie quarterback behind Jared Goff, but that's not saying a whole heck of a lot.
Dynasty Outlook
We can expect Browns head coach Hue Jackson to put Kessler in a position to succeed over the long run. That shouldn't be an issue.
The larger question here is Kessler's ceiling and the Browns' own commitment towards him. While the team isn't going to throw away a third-round pick, there's a possibility Cleveland decides to go quarterback with one of its two first-round picks next April. That would create a situation in which Kessler would be nothing more than a backup. In reality, his path to being a franchise signal caller isn't clear right now.
Kessler's ceiling, as mentioned above, is also an issue. He simply doesn't have the arm talent to be anything more than a lesser version of Alex Smith. That would make Kessler nothing more than a top-25 fantasy quarterback, bordering on being rostered altogether in 12-team leagues.