All-Time Browns QBs Ranked: Graham #1, Kosar #2

DeShone Kizer

#7 · Cleveland Browns
Retired 1 Year In The NFL
DeShone's
HAIR
12.1
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about DeShone Kizer or the Browns?

DeShone Kizer Legacy

HEYTC AI
DeShone Kizer, the cannon-armed kid from Toledo's Central Catholic who lit up Notre Dame with 471-yard bombs against Syracuse, burst into the NFL as Cleveland's bold second-round pick in 2017—a 6'4" rocket with dual-threat wheels, daring defenses to keep up. Thrust into the Browns' 0-16 inferno as a rookie, he slung 314 yards in a gritty Steelers showdown, proving ice in his veins amid the turnovers. Backup stints in Green Bay, Oakland, and Tennessee followed, a journeyman's hustle that echoed the league's unforgiving churn. At 30, Kizer's tale whispers promise unfulfilled, a reminder that arm talent alone doesn't conquer the pros.

DeShone Kizer Rating Breakdown

Season
Non-Factor
Fantasy
Non-Factor
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
1 year with the Browns

DeShone Kizer Career Stats via Wikipedia

3,081 Pass Yards
11 Touchdowns
24 INTs
53.1% Comp %
12.1 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About DeShone Kizer

How does Shedeur Sanders compare to DeShone Kizer?

Shedeur Sanders, now the Browns' starter, looks like a polished pocket passer compared to DeShone Kizer's wild 2017 ride—3,081 yards, 11 TDs, but a 12.08 rating amid 0-16 chaos. Sanders has better accuracy and poise, no rookie turnover fests like Kizer's 22 picks. Kizer's Notre Dame flash faded fast; Shedeur's building something sturdier in Cleveland's pass-happy era.

Is DeShone Kizer in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nope, DeShone Kizer's not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame—no Canton bronze bust for the guy who went 0-15 as a Browns starter. His four NFL seasons topped out at those 3,081 yards and 11 TDs before bouncing to practice squads. Hall's for the Ottos and Jim Browns, not the heartbreak kids from that '17 disaster.

What is DeShone Kizer doing now in 2026?

In 2026, Kizer's out of football, hustling in the NFT game as founder of One of None, an online marketplace authenticating gear with blockchain. He's also deep in ON_Discourse, a DAO chewing on tech and business ideas. Smarter pivot than chasing backup gigs—guy's leveraging that Notre Dame brain for web3 wins.

How would DeShone Kizer perform in today's NFL?

Kizer's big arm and mobility could've popped more in today's NFL, where rules baby QBs and passing rules. His 2017 Browns bombs (think 81-yard college lasers) fit Shanahan schemes, but that 22-INT habit? Modern blitzes would've shredded him worse without Hue Jackson's mess. Still, he'd snag a bridge gig somewhere.

How does DeShone Kizer compare to Otto Graham?

Comparing DeShone Kizer's 12.08 passer rating to Otto Graham's 62.63 is like pitting a pop gun against a howitzer—both Browns QBs, but Otto won titles while Kizer's 0-16 '17 stint was a turnover typhoon. Graham's precision defined eras; Kizer's arm talent flickered then flamed out. Apples to Hall of Fame oranges.