Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer believes he'll be the starter this season no matter who the team takes in the NFL Draft, reports USA Today.
Hoyer, who is seven months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL, isn't worried about a rookie taking his job.
"I only played three games before I got hurt, so it’s not like I had a full season under my belt for them to say, 'Hey, he's the guy we're going to go with.' I don't blame them for it," Hoyer said. "No matter what happens in the draft, I'll have that chance to compete for the starting job, and if it comes down to that, I have the ultimate confidence in myself that no matter who they bring in here, I can beat them out."
Coach Mike Pettine also is standing behind Hoyer.
"There will be competition, but I think it will be very difficult, based on my evaluation of this year’s draft class, it will be very difficult for anyone in this draft class to come in and beat [Hoyer] out. I really believe that," Pettine said. "There's that certain it factor he has. Just the way he's attacked his rehab, the way he's attacked learning a new offense. What jumped out was his accuracy. I think him going through the drill work that we had put the quarterbacks through in their workouts, and compared it to those guys – it was encouraging to see."