As the 2025 NFL season approaches, the Cleveland Browns are staring down one of their most critical decisions: who will lead the offense under center? The early signs suggest it won’t be Shedeur Sanders.
With a deep quarterback room consisting of four distinct options, the battle for the starting job will headline training camp in Berea.
Analyst Tony Grossi recently offered his early quarterback depth chart on ESPN Cleveland, predicting that veteran Joe Flacco will lead the pack to open camp.
Each quarterback brings a different resume to the table, and their competition will define the Browns’ trajectory this season and beyond.
The full projection reads:
- Joe Flacco
- Kenny Pickett
- Dillon Gabriel
- Shedeur Sanders
Veteran stability over future potential
Cleveland overhauled its quarterback room this offseason. It started by acquiring former Pittsburgh Steelers starter Kenny Pickett via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Browns followed that move by bringing back Joe Flacco on a one-year contract, rewarding the veteran after his late-season heroics in 2023.
Flacco, who has proven to be a stabilizing force under head coach Kevin Stefanski, offers experience and familiarity. If Cleveland wants a steady hand in Week 1, Flacco is the safest choice.
However, leaning on the 39-year-old quarterback might not be the wisest long-term strategy for a team aiming to solidify its future.
Pickett, who showed flashes in Pittsburgh but struggled with consistency, will push for a fresh start. The former first-rounder is still only 26 years old and could develop under a new system if given time.
Cleveland didn’t stop at veterans in its rebuilding efforts. In April’s NFL Draft, the Browns selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round. Known for his accuracy and poise at Oklahoma, Gabriel was viewed by some as a sleeper pick who could emerge if given an opportunity.
Just two rounds later, the team added Shedeur Sanders, a polarizing prospect with a high ceiling but questions around readiness for the pro level.
Though listed fourth in Grossi’s projection, Sanders enters camp with buzz. However, he’ll need to climb the depth chart quickly to avoid starting the season on the practice squad.
Browns’s big picture
The quarterback situation in Cleveland isn’t just about 2025 – it could influence decisions as far out as next year’s draft. If none of the current options seize the starting role with authority, the Browns may find themselves targeting yet another quarterback in 2026. The team’s future at the position is anything but settled.
What complicates matters further is that the quarterback battle isn’t a simple two-man race. All four players have the tools to make a case. Gabriel and Sanders will be watched closely throughout the preseason to see if either rookie can accelerate their development and leapfrog the veterans.
The Browns enter training camp with more options than answers. Whether the franchise plays it safe with Flacco or bets on youth and upside could determine not only their 2025 performance but the course of the next several seasons.
One thing is certain: Cleveland’s quarterback competition will be one of the most fascinating storylines to follow this summer.
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