The Cleveland Browns are heading into the 2025 NFL season with more quarterback questions than answers-and rookie Shedeur Sanders is right in the middle of the uncertainty.
With Deshaun Watson still recovering, the Browns are evaluating a depth chart that includes Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Sanders, the high-profile rookie out of Colorado.
While Sanders arrived in Cleveland with fanfare, his path to significant playing time is far from guaranteed.
Veteran sports insider Mary Kay Cabot recently addressed the team’s situation, highlighting both a challenging schedule and the murky quarterback picture as critical factors in Cleveland’s playoff hopes.
“The Browns face a tough early-season run,” Cabot noted, pointing specifically to a stretch where five of six games occur on the road, including a London matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. “Given those hurdles and two divisional games early on, I think starting a veteran quarterback from the outset is the smartest move.”
Sanders projected to start slowly in a crowded QB competition
Cabot also acknowledged that if things go south early, the coaching staff may turn to Sanders or fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel to shake things up. However, that scenario assumes either rookie can outperform the seasoned veterans.
According to ESPN analyst Mike Clay, Sanders might not be ready to steal the spotlight. In Clay‘s 2025 quarterback projections, he slotted Sanders at No. 5 among rookie signal callers, forecasting a modest stat line: fewer than 1,000 passing yards and just four touchdowns across four starts.
That projection is even lower than that of third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, who is predicted to throw for over 1,200 yards and notch five touchdowns in five starts. Sanders‘ placement behind Gabriel only intensifies questions about his readiness and standing within the Browns organization.
Veterans like Pickett and Flacco add another layer of difficulty for Sanders. Both bring NFL starting experience, and with Watson‘s health still a variable, the team may lean heavily on proven arms to start the year.
Clay‘s top projections were reserved for Cam Ward, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, who is expected to produce over 3,300 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. Fellow rookies Tyler Shough (New Orleans) and Jaxson Dart (New York Giants) round out the top three, making Sanders‘ outlook look even bleaker by comparison.
As the Browns prepare for training camp, all eyes will be on how the quarterback competition unfolds.
For Sanders, the opportunity to prove himself is there-but the pressure to perform quickly is mounting.
Whether he can rise above the projections and carve out a meaningful role remains one of the Browns‘ biggest storylines heading into the fall.
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