The Cleveland Browns may have stocked their quarterback room with depth this offseason, but it’s clear not all QBs are on equal footing.
With four signal-callers currently vying for position, the Browns appear ready to enter the 2025 season with a blend of experience and inexperience with veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett on top, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders at the bottom.
For now, the pecking order reflects caution and seniority. But there’s growing unrest outside the building from analysts who want the franchise to embrace a different approach.
One of the loudest voices pushing for change is NFL analyst Warren Sharp, who didn’t mince words about his hopes for the Browns‘ upcoming season.
“What I hope will happen is that Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett will not win any games for the Cleveland Browns. That’s my hope,” Sharp said.
“I want to see the younger kids produce. We know Flacco is not going to be a franchise QB, and he’s old. We know Pickett is not a franchise QB. I want to see what Shedeur Sanders has. I want to see what Dylan Gabriel has. I want to see what these guys have, and if they lose games, guess what, they aren’t the guy, and you are going to get good draft pick next year.”
The Browns’ future under center may come down to how much they’re willing to risk in 2025
While some believe in the developmental plan head coach Kevin Stefanski promised, the reality on the ground has been far more rigid.
Flacco and Pickett have commanded most of the first-team reps. Gabriel has carved out a small role behind them. Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders, once a projected first-round pick, now finds himself on the fringe, buried at QB4 with little indication of advancement.
That contradicts what Stefanski promised at the start of camp and has fueled speculation that Sanders could even be a cut candidate. Some fans and insiders believe the only way to give the rookies a fair shake is if the veterans falter-and soon.
Flacco did bring stability in 2024, stepping in late to guide Cleveland to an 11-6 finish and a postseason berth.
But he only started five games, and expecting the 39-year-old to replicate that magic over a full 17-game season may be optimistic at best. He hasn’t played a full season since 2017 and still shows the same risky tendencies, including a penchant for interceptions.
Pickett, meanwhile, has struggled to establish himself. After two inconsistent seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he lost his starting role to Mason Rudolph and later served as a backup in Philadelphia.
While he offers youth and mobility, his play has yet to inspire confidence. As Sharp noted, “we know Pickett is not a franchise QB.”
This leaves Cleveland in an awkward but familiar position. Despite recent improvements under Stefanski, the Browns have finished with a losing record in three of his five years. Their struggles at quarterback have persisted regardless of who’s under center.
But the potential reward for giving Sanders or Gabriel a real opportunity could be significant. If either rookie flashes promise, the Browns might already have their QB of the future in the building.
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