With only three wins, the Browns are coming off their worst season in the five years with Kevin Stefanski as the head coach. It is also the worst season since the disastrous 2017 season, when the team did not win a single game (0-16). Before Stefanski, the Browns had only made one playoff appearance this century. With him, they have made two appearances in five years, achieved their first playoff win since 1994, and had two 11-win seasons, which ties the most for the storied franchise since 1994. Hiring Stefanski is undoubtedly one of the few successes that owner Jimmy Haslam has achieved, but, as always, the most important thing is the present.
Right now the Browns have an issue at the most important position in the NFL-quarterback. They cannot afford to wait any longer, as the first preseason game is only three weeks away, and the regular season starts in less than two months. The team has yet to decide who will start or determine the depth chart order between Kenny Pickett, a backup in Philadelphia last season who won the Super Bowl; Joe Flacco, entering his 18th season, the second-longest active tenure in the NFL; and the rookies. Dillon Gabriel, who was drafted 50 spots before Shedeur Sanders who has received the most attention of the four.
Dillon Gabriel Gets Surprise Spotlight in OTAs and Minicamp
The Browns’ rookies reported to training camp last week, and the veterans will report this week, so the team is really starting to warm up for the upcoming season, like everyone else in the NFL. Coach Stefanski will have to decide which of his four quarterbacks will get the most reps with the first team at training camp. According to Tony Rizzo, the host of an ESPN Cleveland radio show who receives information directly from reports at training camp, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are in the lead. Rizzo said on the show today, “I believe Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are the two guys I’d be looking at to start right now.”
According to Rizzo, the Browns reportedly focused more on Dillon Gabriel during OTAs and minicamp than originally planned. I’ve said since he joined the team that Kenny Pickett should start in Week 1 at home against the Bengals. At 27 years old, he already has two years of experience as a starter with the Steelers, where he had a 15-10 record and made it to the playoffs once. Of course, he has some merit, but the team didn’t make it to the playoffs because of him; it was because of the defense.
More importantly, he is coming off a Super Bowl-winning season as Jalen Hurts’ backup, which gives him experience that only Joe Flacco can surpass. Flacco won’t be the starter tho, he’s more reliable backup because he has played that role since leaving Baltimore in 2019.
Among rookies, it should come as no surprise that Gabriel has the most opportunities. There’s a reason he was selected 50 picks ahead of Sanders. In his final collegiate season at Oregon, he led the team to the best record in the nation and top seed for the playoffs, throwing for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns, and only six interceptions.
Meanwhile, Sanders, who improved from four wins in 2023 to nine last season in Colorado, threw for 4,134 yards. He had 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, so his numbers were better. Of course, the playbook and team matter. While Colorado had no ground attack, Shedeur threw 38 times per game, while Gabriel, with a better roster, threw only 31 times per game.
Training Camp Pressure Mounts with a Tough Schedule Ahead
Now the fun part kicks off for the Browns with training camp in full swing, but locking in a starter is just the start-the real challenge is keeping that job. Since 1999, they’ve burned through 40 different starters, the most in the NFL, with only Tim Couch and Baker Mayfield playing every game in a season. Last year’s four opening-day QBs, including Deshaun Watson, are all gone now, opening doors but offering zero stability.
The early schedule doesn’t help: divisional clashes with the Bengals and Ravens in the first two weeks, then at home against Green Bay and a near visit to Detroit. If wins don’t come, I wouldn’t be shocked if Stefanski swaps QBs by Week 5 against the Vikings in London. It’s a high-stakes roll of the dice for Gabriel, Sanders, and the crew.
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