"Too Soon" to Name a Starting QB, HC Hue Jackson Says

With summer slowly approaching, a quarterback competition is beginning to brew in Cleveland.

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson told the media on Saturday after Fan Fest that it's "too soon" to name a starting quarterback, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported.

Jackson is right. It's only May, far too soon to name a starter.

At the conclusion of rookie camp, the next step in the process is the full squad minicamp in June. If no starter is named by the conclusion of OTAs, the process will stretch into training camp.

"I don't have a timeline," Jackson said. "Obviously, we're going to do it way before we play. If we can do it after OTAs, great. If it has to be at another time, great. We'll do it then, too. Whatever's best for us, that's what we'll do."

EVP of Football Operations Sashi Brown and VP of Player Personnel Andrew Berry spoke highly of newly signed Robert Griffin III, but also talked about Cody Kessler's skillset yesterday at Fan Fest.

Jackson remains open to having a competition and taking his time on the decision, which he will share with Brown and Berry.

"We're going to give all our quarterbacks an opportunity. The bottom line is somebody is going to win this job. We all know that and understand it, but it's way too early to talk about one guy. I know everybody wants us to anoint a guy. That's not going to happen right this second. I don't think I've had enough time and they haven't had enough time in this system that we run to feel very comfortable yet. Let's go through OTAs. Let's get into training camp and let's see where we are when the real bullets start flying, when guys are going after you trying to take you down. That's when we'll have a better idea about our football team in general."

Signed to a 2-year deal in the offseason, Griffin appears to be the early favorite. But Kessler does fit the Jackson mold at quarterback -- an efficient and accurate pro-style signalcaller.

"I didn't see any issue with his arm strength and the weather,'' said Jackson after Saturday's wet, windy practice. "Cody has all the characteristics that we think he can handle any elements, any situation. Obviously, he's just got to keep growing and keep getting better. He's playing in the National Football League. The game is tough. You see he threw one to the other team today. Can't do that. Sometimes you've just go to say uncle and throw the ball away. He'll learn that as he goes, too. He had another good day."

Griffin did stick around Saturday to watch some of the practice after finishing his autograph session.

As Jackson rightly said, give it time. The right quarterback will emerge in due time.