As the Browns follow the Texans in constructing an extended departure ramp for Deshaun Watson, they have since added four quarterbacks. Each of the players would have a path to starting for a team that saw its highest-paid passer wildly disappoint before suffering two Achilles tears.
As Watson rehabs, the Browns are effectively moving on (though, a monumental dead money hit will loom if that happens in 2026). And the draft brought an unusual outcome. The Browns surprised most by taking Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel late in the third round. Gabriel came off the board 94th, shortly after Jalen Milroe but a full round before Shedeur Sanders. Widely anticipated to go in the first or second rounds, Sanders tumbled to 144th overall. The Browns stopped his skid hours after Andrew Berry had deemed Gabriel a better fit.
Becoming the rare team to select two quarterbacks in the same draft, the Browns added the rookies to a position group housing Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. (Flacco’s return and the ensuing draft moves will cut off a Kirk Cousins-to-Cleveland path.) The former arrived via trade in March, while the latter is back for a second tour of duty in Cleveland. Both veterans, Flacco especially, have extensive starting experience and could serve as placeholders. Though, we do not know yet who the bridge QBs will be setting up just yet.
Carrying the cheapest contract of the bunch, Sanders will undoubtedly bring by far the most attention. The Browns were once connected to potentially drafting the two-year Colorado starter second overall. A historic draft fall then commenced, allowing the team to trade up (via the Seahawks) for the polarizing prospect in the fifth round. Cleveland certainly did not plan to draft Sanders, but the value proved too enticing. A player viewed as a top-35 (or top-five, in Mel Kiper Jr.’s case) overall prospect will begin training for a potential starting role.
QBs chosen in Round 5 or later obviously have a low percentage shot of hitting, and the NFL effectively showed how it viewed Sanders this weekend. Sanders’ draft slide dwarfed Malik Willis‘ from 2022, as it appeared teams deemed Deion Sanders‘ son/pupil not worth the potential distractions he may bring. Shedeur’s attitude during pre-draft visits came up as one of the reasons he fell, and he is not going to a team that has done well at the quarterback position, for the most part, since rebooting in 1999. That said, Sanders could also make the highly unusual trek from fifth-round rookie to starter. Not too much is blocking him, should outside evaluators’ view be accurate (compared to a perception within the league).
The Browns saw Flacco deliver one of the most memorable QB stretches since they reemerged at the turn of the century, having seen the then-38-year-old join the practice squad and serve as a stunningly effective emergency replacement for Watson. Although Flacco earned Comeback Player of the Year acclaim for his five-game run that lifted an injury-plagued Browns offense to the playoffs, he is now 40 and coming off an unremarkable Colts cameo.
Indianapolis had benched Anthony Richardson in hopes Flacco could stabilize the offense, as a potential playoff berth was deemed a priority over Richardson development. After already subbing for an injured Richardson early last year, Flacco could not hold the job as an non-injury fill-in.
Shane Steichen benched Flacco after a three-INT game in Minnesota, and although he did return to replace Richardson late in the season (featuring a 330-yard loss to the Giants — in a game that cost the NFC East team Cam Ward), the Browns stand to have a diminished version of the former Super Bowl MVP compared to their 2023 edition. Still, Flacco has a path to the Week 1 gig as well.
Pickett could also lay claim to the role, but the Browns picking two quarterbacks by Round 5 also could lead him out of town. The former Steelers No. 20 overall pick has now been traded in back-to-back offseasons, with the second sending historically ineffective Browns backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Philly. Pickett did not impress in his second Steelers season, wrapping a 24-start tenure with 13 TD passes. Pittsburgh traded Pickett after he did not respond well to the Russell Wilson signing, as the Pitt alum sought a new team. Pickett’s struggles against the Commanders led to a late-season Eagles loss, and he left his lone Jalen Hurts relief start with a rib injury.
One season remains on Pickett’s rookie deal, which calls for a $2.62MM base salary. The Browns would take on that amount in dead money if they were to waive Pickett. That did not appear much of a possibility before the draft, as 2022’s top QB choice arrived before Flacco to at least compete for the starting job. But subsequent events complicate that route. Although, two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski having a crack at Pickett — after embattled OC Matt Canada did not do much with him — at least represents an intriguing wild card here.
The first QB the Browns chose this year will step into the unusual spot of being overshadowed by a rookie in his own position group. Gabriel will come to Ohio having been Cleveland’s preference over Sanders, but he will now have to prove it in a way he may not have before the latter investment. Ranked 148th on Daniel Jeremiah‘s NFL.com big board (128 spots behind Sanders), Gabriel started throughout his college career — at Central Florida, Oklahoma and Oregon.
The Ducks’ Bo Nix successor played in a tougher conference, after Oregon’s Big Ten move, and won the league’s Offensive Player of the Year award. That did not result in draft gurus viewing the 5-foot-11 QB as anything but a Day 3 prospect, but the Browns disagreed and will give him a chance to start.
While one of these QBs could be sent to the practice squad, it would be unlikely if Sanders or Gabriel cleared waivers. Pickett would also need to clear waivers to be stashed. Though, it is now easier to imagine Pickett reaching free agency than one of Cleveland’s two recent QB draftees. This complicated situation will be the runaway lead Browns story moving forward, as the Myles Garrett matter is settled. The team’s QB future was supposed to loom large in the Browns regrouping with Garrett, but if this plan does not work out, Berry also secured an extra 2026 first-round pick by trading out of the Travis Hunter draft slot.
Who will win the offseason competition? And, more importantly, who do you think will end the season as the team’s primary starter? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts on this swiftly evolving setup in the comments section.
There’s a significant chance Shedeur doesn’t even make the 53 man roster come week 1. You can’t make the most starts when you’re not on the roster.
I think it’s more likely than not that he makes the roster due to the remaining cap hit from Watson. Both Gabriel and he will have four-year rookie contracts that will be affordable after both Flacco and Pickett are gone. They’re not expecting Watson back this season so it’s not out of the realm of possibility for them to carry four QBs on the 53. It’s rare but it has been done before. I believe the Jets did it about a decade ago.
Keeping both Gabriel and Sanders means either Flacco or Pickett needs to go. But Flacco and Pickett already have a good chunk of their 2025 money guaranteed. So if the Browns can’t find someone to trade for those contracts they’d have to eat them to let either one go.
Flacco will be trade bait for teams that experience a major QB injury during the offseason (or Sept/Oct).
There’s no reason for Joe Flacco to be on the 53 man roster either……and he’s leading this poll by a large margin.
Flacco is the QB in this room, with the strongest arm! Think about that for a second
Flacco went 4-1 in the regular season with the Browns in 2023. Paired with Stefanski he’s the QB most likely to deliver W’s for the Browns in 2025. But if their goal is to lose as many games as possible in 2025 so they can pick a top level QB in 2026, then starting Sanders is probably the way to go.
If they have to use a third pick in 2026 on a QB, chances are good the GM is toast (and probably the coach).
It’s pretty obvious that both the HC & GM had no say on the Watson trade, & drafting Sanders. I’d like to see them working with different franchises to really be evaluated. I bet both of them want to be working with other teams as well.
I don’t think Andrew Berry and Stefanski are on the hot seat. If they were, they wouldn’t have moved back in the draft at #2 to pick up a next year’s first. Jimmy Haslam admitted he’s the one who wanted Watson.
Shedeur will make the roster, regardless. They need something to make them halfway watchable, and the owner will push it. Plus, Pickett is awful and doesn’t really seem to have any upside. Sanders is a high floor, low ceiling type that’s already going to be better than Kenny.
I doubt it’s a “significant” chance. Pickett is an easy release while Watson goes on IR. There are their 3 opening week QBs: Flacco, Gabriel, and Sanders.
I agree kinda, but teams typically like to have a backup qb with NFL experience. They really might just keep 4.
It does make you wonder if they’ll just roll with one of the rookies as their opening week starter.
it SHOULD be Joe Flacco, but realistically it is going to be Pickett
Why Flacco? The Browns won’t make the playoffs, so they should start one of the younger guys.
Coach and GM have to be on somewhay of a hot seat, which tends to bring less than ideal short-term decisions.
I see zero chance Pickett starts over Flacco. Barring injury, of course
Joe Flacco
Never bet against Flacco.
Can Gabriel even SEE over the OL to determine not only where his receivers are but whether they are open? Will have to do alot of rolling out of the pocket.
Jacksson13 at it again… He was able to SEE when he played at Oregon.
NOW he’ll be trying to replicate in the NFL !!
The poll question is a bit like asking which horse will finish the Kentucky Derby looking at the ass of 19 other horses…lol.
It’s going to be Sanders. Did you see the clip of the HC & GM barely even clapping when they drafted him? Clearly the owner made that call. The owner will win out. Flacco will start, but Sanders will replace him before midseason when they’re under .500.
It should be Flacco.
I think he’ll get about 8 starts, barring injury, and then the Browns will start giving time to other QBs in November, after their record says they’re realistically eliminated from playoff contention. I know the playoffs aren’t a realistic expectation, but the HC and GM are going to be battling to save their jobs.
I think it’ll be Flacco. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Pickett waived and stashed on the practice squad (I doubt he’d be claimed, but who knows). If they do that, they can elevate Pickett as needed for game days and hit whichever of Gabriel/Sanders they want with a game inactive while the other one is the emergency QB.
When Shedeur walks into the training facility all eyes of the Cleveland brass will be watching how he conducts himself. There still a lot of questions regarding Sanders personal traits how he manages himself with his new teammates, will he come off as I am the starting QB as soon as he walks through the door because of my last name and who he is, or will he compete on where his physical talent takes him.
BTW- his brother has hired a agent (Rosenhouse) and dropped his dad as his agent, heard that Papa Sanders was not happy about that move. I wonder if Shedeur will be doing the same thing.
Is Flacco their best QB? Sadly, probably. But he shouldn’t play. What does that gain them?
Don’t know how to think about Gabriel. That might be the weirdest draft pick I’ve ever seen. Since no one except one guy in the Browns’ front office thinks he’s a starter, assume he’s the 3rd string project.
That means Pickett vs. Sanders. I would guess these two get the majority of snaps that matter.
If Pickett isn’t good, he’s pretty easy to give up on. Sanders wins the job and it would make sense to figure out what you have in him quickly so you can have a 2026 plan.
If Sanders isn’t good, you tell the circus to leave town.
Pickett will be their week 1 starter. A team with no shot at the playoffs isn’t starting 40 year old Joe Flacco. Gabriel or Sanders will start on the practice squad.
There’s a disturbing story emerging re Shadeur Sanders. NFL is looking into a prank call he received during the Draft from Jax Ulrich, whose father Jeff Ulrich is Atlanta’s defensive coordinator. Jeff Ulrich was the New York Jets’ interim head coach in 2024 after they ran off Robert Saleh.
The Browns clearly have no one at the helm – as their QB roster shows. If only running a football team was as easy as ripping off truckers…
Sanders has already requested that they retire his number…
There should be a choice none of the above. The way Browns go through quarterbacks it will probably be somebody not on this list. By week six these will all be out with injuries or released