Owner Jimmy Haslam said the Browns would bring in competition for QB Brandon Weeden.
And they have.
The Browns announced Tuesday night that the team signed veteran Jason Campbell to a two-year contract.
“Jason is an established leader who has started a number of games in this league and has had success,” head coach Rob Chudzinski said in a statement. “He brings us a veteran presence and a good set of physical tools. He played in a similar system when he was in Oakland and that will help in his transition.”
Campbell (6-5, 230) was a first-round draft choice of the Redskins (25th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft from Auburn. Campbell has started 71 of his 77 career games. He has completed 1,328 of 2,182 career passes (60.9%) for 14,682 yards with 76 touchdowns, 52 interceptions and an 82.5 passer rating. Campbell has a plus-24 touchdown-interception ratio, and his 2.4 career interception percentage is tied for eighth-best in the NFL since 2005.
Ironically, Campbell is entering his 10th NFL season and will turn 32 on Dec. 31. Meanwhile, Weeden will turn 30 on Oct. 14 in just his second season.
“We are excited to have Jason as a member of the Cleveland Browns,” said Browns CEO Joe Banner. “He is a veteran player who has been productive throughout his career and will be a good addition to our team.”
Campbell’s best season was his last season in Washington when he was 327-of-507 for 3,618 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His rating was 86.4.
Campbell has also rushed for 1,096 rushing yards and six scores. In the first five years of his career (2005-09) with the Redskins, he was one of four quarterbacks in franchise history to throw for 3,000 yards in back-to-back seasons (3,245 in 2008 and 3,618 in 2009). He became the franchise leader in career completion percentage (61.2) and his passer rating of 82.3 was second-best in Redskins annals. He also established a team record with a streak of 271 consecutive passes without an interception, spanning from 2007-08, which was the fifth-longest streak ever in the NFL at the time.
Campbell, 31, was traded to Oakland prior to the 2010 season and spent two years with the Raiders. In those two seasons, he started 18 of his 19 contests and threw for 3,557 yards with 19 touchdowns. In 2011, he opened the first six contests and led Oakland to a 4-2 record before a broken collarbone against the Browns ended his season.
Campbell signed with the Bears as an unrestricted free agent in 2012 and appeared in six games with one start last season. He completed 32-of-51 passes for 265 yards with two touchdowns.
Campbell is expected to compete with Weeden for the starting position. The Browns currently also have Colt McCoy and Thaddeus Lewis on the roster at quarterback.
