The 6-3 Cleveland Browns will soon pivot to their third starting quarterback for the 2023 season.
As the Browns navigate through the playoff race, Cleveland will soon turn to a Day 3 find from the 2023 NFL Draft on Sunday versus the Pittsburgh Steelers: Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
When Did Cleveland Draft Dorian Thompson-Robinson? How Browns Got Dynamic Dual-Threat
The Browns stood pat at the fifth selection in the fifth round before settling on quarterback help.
And “DTR” was swooped up at No. 140 overall to Cleveland.
MORE: Who Is Dorian Thompson-Robinson?
By nabbing Thompson-Robinson, the Browns continued their current theme of landing dual-threat passers to guide the offense. The team had already pivoted away from pocket passer Baker Mayfield and gravitated toward Deshaun Watson. The team also turned to Jacoby Brissett briefly when Watson was suspended for violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.
Thompson-Robinson delivered one of the more decorated careers for a QB at UCLA. He holds the school record for total starts (48), touchdown passes (88), total yards of offense (12,236), and total touchdowns (116).
Thompson-Robinson even entered Westwood as a prized five-star prospect out of national prep powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. His ceiling was so high in high school that DTR was receiving offers before his first varsity snaps, as he began backing up former five-star QB Tate Martell.
Yet, he dropped in the 2023 NFL Draft. How did a record-shattering QB at a school rich in football history drop so low?
Why Thompson-Robinson Fell in the 2023 NFL Draft
Despite his astronomical numbers, DTR endured a rather star-crossed career at UCLA.
He never got the Bruins to play in their home venue during New Year’s weekend. In addition to not playing in a New Year’s Six bowl, Thompson-Robinson never elevated UCLA to the top of the Pac-12. Lastly, none of the Bruin teams quarterbacked by DTR won more than nine games in a season.
But it’s not just the wins and losses that gave him his draft dilemma. Back in 2021, PFN’s Ian Cummings noted that he had some issues with development despite being a twitchy athlete. He also came with “mechanical and mental inconsistencies.” And what was the draft prediction then? Thompson-Robinson was labeled a Day 3 projection.
Fast forward to 2023, before throwing his first NFL pass, DTR fell to the fifth round, with consistency being a primary reason.
The Browns, though, saw some flash plays from Thompson-Robinson during the preseason with his knack of escaping the rush and firing downfield.
What Kind of Defense Is Thompson-Robinson Facing on Sunday?
The Steelers will be nothing like the USC or Arizona defenses DTR saw in college.
However, this doesn’t mean he’s facing one of the league’s best units. This Steelers defense has struggled.
They’re 28th in average yards allowed at 379.7 per game. Pittsburgh is 27th against the pass, allowing an average of 248.4 yards per contest. And they’re 24th versus the run, surrendering 131.2 yards per game.
Statistically, this bodes well for the rookie making his second career start. However, this is still a Steelers team entering the contest with an identical record to the Browns. A Pittsburgh win can set back the Browns in what’s been a crowded playoff race in the AFC North.
Thompson-Robinson may have fallen all the way to the fifth round, but he’s got a great opportunity to prove he belongs in the league with his first start since Week 4 on the horizon facing a struggling unit.
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