The Cleveland Browns‘ quarterback situation has become increasingly unpredictable, even after Kevin Stefanski named Joe Flacco as the Week 1 starter against the Cincinnati Bengals and an analyst suggests a shake-up could still be on the cards.
With Deshaun Watson sidelined due to his Achilles injury, the door is open for the likes of Flacco, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Ty Huntley to try to land the starter spot.
The veteran currently holds the edge, yet despite his Week 1 ruling, Aditi Kinkhabwala revealed that other teams have already inquired about trades involving Cleveland’s quarterbacks – including Flacco himself.
“I was chatting with an offensive coach in the NFL just last night,” Kinkhabwala said. “Who was asking me about Kenny Pickett as a trade object.
“And I do think, and not just Pickett, it could be Flacco. If you look around the league right now, there are still some unsettled quarterback situations.
There are still some teams that potentially aren’t totally satisfied with their quarterback rooms.
“There’s a very good chance that Andrew Berry and the Browns are going to be fielding phone calls for any and all of these quarterbacks.”
At first glance, a report linking Flacco to a trade may seem improbable after the 40-year-old has taken almost all first-team reps during training camp, and is familiar with Stefanski’s system after his previous stint with the team in 2023/24.
Pickett, entering his fourth season, has struggled with a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, the rookies have shown flashes of potential: Gabriel impressed against the Eagles before injuries limited him, and Sanders stood out versus the Panthers before an oblique issue sidelined him.
So, none of them seem as though they are bad picks for the quarterback spot, although the seasoned Flacco provides much-needed veteran stability, hence why he appears to have the edge.
Ultimately, however, emerging talent and roster constraints may force Andrew Berry to make difficult decisions as the Browns’ general manager could sent one of his five quarterbacks packing and the head coach seemed to hint at this.
“We’ll let it play out as we get closer to the cut down,” Stefanski said. “Those are all conversations that we are always having.
“But those are tough decisions. You know, I’d like to keep everybody, but not realistic.”
Adding to the urgency, is a report that the owner, Jimmy Haslam, reportedly wants Gabriel and Sanders to be tested this season. Pressure from higher-ups might make the quarterback spot a non-footballing decision, especially if a shot at the NFL Playoffs fades.
Browns vs Bengals: Date, Time, Where to Watch
The Cleveland Browns will kick off their 2025 NFL season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, September 7, 2025, with kickoff set for 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT.
The game will be held at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Fans can watch the action live on FOX, and it will also be available to stream via Fubo.
Local radio broadcasts include WTAM 1100 for Browns listeners and WKRC 550 AM for Bengals supporters.
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