No quarterback competition will ever be smooth or pretty, but the Cleveland Browns have an unprecedented one on their hands. Disappointing big-money veteran Deshaun Watson is nursing an Achilles injury. To offset that, the team brought in veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco through free agency to battle for the starting spot. Then, in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland drafted not only one but two rookie signal-callers.
Drafted two rounds apart, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders came in with a chip on their shoulder and a real opportunity to win the starting job. Sanders, in particular, wants to show every other team they made a mistake passing on him several times. While Gabriel and Sanders are the flashy new products, Pickett has gone under the radar despite reports having him as the favorite to be the team’s starter. And Browns fans are starting to have his back while he deals with the national media’s swarming coverage of Sanders.
Kenny Pickett is expected to be the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback to start 2025 season
The Browns recently posted a video of Pickett doing one-legged squats. The top comment was from Pickett’s quarterback coach, pleading him to “outwork and out compete everyone“. Several other fans commented “QB1“.
To keep the Pickett hype rolling, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski appeared on a local radio show on Friday morning and praised Pickett, while specifically highlighting his work ethic.
Despite Sanders getting the headlines, Gabriel being the talented third round rookie, Flacco having had success with the organization and Watson the big contract guy, the signs still point to Pickett being the starting quarterback in Week 1. Pickett has kept relatively quiet since the draft, and has gone about his business.
His calm demeanor and even-keeled nature could be exactly what the Browns need at the quarterback position. With Pickett eager to prove himself after a disappointing start to his career, the additions of Sanders and Gabriel may have lit a fire under the 26-year-old, and the Browns could benefit greatly.
Read the full article here
