With training camp just around the corner, the Cleveland Browns are set to open one of the most compelling quarterback competitions in the NFL. On July 18, rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, drafted in the third and fifth rounds respectively, will report to the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea, Ohio. Veteran players, including Kenny Pickett and seasoned signal-caller Joe Flacco, are scheduled to join them four days later, on July 22.
This means fans and media will soon get legitimate insight into how the Browns’ four-way quarterback race is shaping up, finally replacing speculation with substance. Even during the quiet weeks of the offseason, the topic has been hotly debated by analysts and former coaches alike.
One of the more notable voices to weigh in is Todd Haley. A longtime NFL coach who served as the Browns’ offensive coordinator in 2018 and previously led the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009 to 2011, Haley made it clear that, in his eyes, the job is already Flacco’s to lose.
“Joe Flacco’s the guy. I would be shocked if it were anybody else starting the season,” Haley said. “But in that building, within that staff, I gotta believe that they think one of these guys can be the long-term solution.”
Haley’s confidence in Flacco stems from the veteran’s familiarity with Kevin Stefanski‘s offensive system, his late-season heroics in 2024, and the stability he brings to a roster with playoff aspirations. However, Haley also emphasized that Flacco is likely just a short-term bridge while the team evaluates its younger talent.
Decisions to be made
Beyond Week 1, the Browns have big decisions to make, particularly regarding Kenny Pickett, the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback they traded for earlier this offseason. Haley believes Pickett could be a key trade asset if he performs well in the preseason.
“I would think, best case scenario for them, one of these young guys gets them excited,” Haley noted. “And one of the other guys, Kenny Pickett, maybe, looks really good in preseason, you give him a full three quarters or something to play. Then all of a sudden, another team that’s quarterback needy, even if it’s for a backup, says, ‘we’ll give you something for him.'”
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported in June that the Browns might carry all four quarterbacks into the season, but Haley expressed skepticism about that plan. With roster spots at a premium, carrying four quarterbacks could come at the cost of depth in other key areas-something he warned against.
“Because I think otherwise, you’re just gonna look bad,” Haley said. “If you cut Kenny Pickett after trading draft capital, if you cut Dillon Gabriel after using a third-round pick, even if you cut Shedeur Sanders after using a fifth-round pick… Best case scenario, somebody really gets them excited, other than Flacco, and they feel like, ‘Alright, this is our guy going forward.'”
The Browns will be closely monitoring camp reps, preseason performance, and locker room chemistry to determine who deserves to stay and who may be on the trade block or cut list.
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