During the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns made headlines by orchestrating a series of moves that reshaped their quarterback room and the upcmoing season. First, they traded the second overall pick, which could have secured Heisman winner Travis Hunter, to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for the fifth overall selection and their 2026 first round pick. Then, they drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round. Gabriel led the top-seeded Oregon Ducks to a 13-1 record.
Finally, as you might now, they selected Shedeur Sanders, the draft’s most talked-about player. Gabriel and Sanders will join existing quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Head coach Kevin Stefanski anticipates that this group will engage in healthy, complex, and beneficial competition to determine the Week 1 starter against the Cincinnati Bengals. This offseason, the Browns’ quarterback competition will give a lot to talk about.
Stefanski’s Praise for Shedeur Sanders
During a recent radio interview with ESPN Cleveland, Kevin Stefanski expressed his admiration for Shedeur Sanders, saying, “I like everything about Shedeur.” Stefanski highlighted Sanders’ work ethic, noting, “He’s working like crazy. He’s earning it. He gets to train early.” Sanders had impressive college stats, leading the nation in completion percentage and ranking second in passing touchdowns and fourth in passing yards last season.
Despite being drafted earlier and reportedly favored as the Browns’ “QB2” behind Cam Ward, Gabriel, Stefanski’s comments suggest a strong belief in Sanders’s potential. Reports indicate that Stefanski was Gabriel’s biggest fan during the draft, appreciating his on- and off-field demeanor more than those of any other quarterback. However, Sanders’s performance and dedication have not gone unnoticed, positioning him as a serious contender in this competitive environment.
The Browns’ Quarterback Room
As organized team activities (OTAs) approach, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are expected to get the most reps. In my opinion, Pickett is most likely to start in Week 1. Pickett’s experience gives him an edge: he was a starter for two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and a backup with the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles last year, starting one game-a 41-7 rout of Dallas in Week 16. However, the competition remains wide open. Both Sanders and Gabriel could surprise during OTAs and potentially claim the starting role by September.
Since 1999, only two Browns quarterbacks, Tim Couch and Baker Mayfield, have completed a full season, suggesting a likelihood of quarterback changes as the season progresses. The Browns have a particularly challenging first month, facing Joe Burrow’s Bengals at home, traveling to face Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, hosting the young Green Bay Packers, and finally visiting Detroit. These matchups increase the likelihood that the Browns will have cycled through two quarterbacks by Week 5, adding urgency to Sanders’s and Gabriel’s OTA performances.
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