Having coached the position, I know that room is unique. There are a lot of unique rooms on a football team, but that quarterback room, you have to work together. I have seen great examples of it in my career. This one is in that same vein with Case, with Garrett and with Alex Van Pelt, Alex’s demeanor, the way he runs the meetings and the way he is on the field, I think there is a great thread running through that room. Certainly, Case is the old, old, old veteran in that room and plays that role really well.” — Kevin Stefanski
When the Browns sought to fortify their quarterbacks room this offseason, they wanted the best possible option in the unfortunate event Baker Mayfield would have to miss some snaps, series or games. They also wanted a player who could help guide Mayfield along the way as he tackled a new offense for the third time in as many years.
That’s why there was so much excitement behind the signing of Case Keenum. In Stefanski’s eyes, the Browns got both, and the entire quarterbacks room — from Mayfield to undrafted rookie Kevin Davidson — has benefitted.
Keenum has learned myriad offensive systems since he entered the league in 2012 as an undrafted free agent with the Texans. None fit him better than the one he operated in Minnesota in 2017, when Stefanski was his quarterbacks coach. After beginning the season as the backup, Keenum completed a career-best 67 percent of his passes for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns and just seven interceptions over 14 games. The Vikings went 13-3 that year and defeated the Saints in the NFC Divisional Round thanks to Keenum’s miraculous, 61-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs as time expired.
