page_title: DeShone Kizer
section_title: Cleveland Browns
hierarchical_section_title: DeShone Kizer / Professional career / Cleveland Browns
caption_attribution_description: Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants
context_page_description: DeShone Allen Kizer is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football at Notre Dame and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders.
context_section_description: The Cleveland Browns selected Kizer in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the fourth quarterback to be selected that year. On June 14, 2017, the Browns signed Kizer to a four-year, $4.94 million contract that includes $2.42 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.73 million. On August 27, 2017, following the team's third preseason game, the Browns named Kizer as the starting quarterback to begin the 2017 regular season, beating out veteran trade acquisition Brock Osweiler and second-year quarterbacks Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan.
  Making his NFL debut on September 10, 2017, Kizer finished with 222 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 17 yards and a one-yard rushing touchdown, but the Browns lost by a score 21–18 at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He orchestrated a 12-play drive that ended when he scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Kizer's first career passing touchdown was a three-yard pass to wide receiver Corey Coleman in the fourth quarter. He started the next four games for the Browns, which were all losses. During the Week 5 game against the New York Jets, Kizer was benched in favor of Kevin Hogan to begin the third quarter. Hogan was later named the starter for the team's Week 6 game against the Houston Texans. After Hogan's struggles in Week 6, Kizer was renamed the starter for the Week 7. Against the Tennessee Titans in Week 7, Kizer threw for 114 yards and two interceptions before being benched in favor of Cody Kessler in the third quarter. The Browns lost 12–9 in overtime. Following the game, reports surfaced Kizer was out late the Friday before the Titans game, which caused some controversy. During Week 14 against the Green Bay Packers, Kizer threw for 214 yards and a season-high three touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions, including one in overtime that gave the Packers excellent field position. The Browns lost by a score of 27–21. During the season finale against the Steelers in Week 17, Kizer finished with a season-high 314 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception as the Browns lost 24–28. The Browns finished the year with an 0–16 record, only the second team in NFL history to have that record.
  In 15 starts of his rookie season, Kizer completed 53.6 percent of his passes for 2,894 yards, 11 touchdowns, and a league-leading 22 interceptions. He also rushed for 419 yards and five touchdowns.
caption: Kizer during training camp
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