With Deshaun Watson looking like a long shot to play in the 2025 NFL season at all, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco is emerging as the favorite to open the season as the Browns’ starting quarterback when they host the Bengals in Week 1. The coaches are starting to feel that way, but he’s getting support from some veteran teammates, as well, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. 
Per Cabot, when the Browns traded for Kenny Pickett early in the offseason, they had visions of the 27-year-old blossoming into a breakout star à la Sam Darnold. Throughout the spring, though, Flacco seemed to prove more capable of a starting role. The 40-year-old veteran shined as the “best pure thrower” of the football out of the four active passers on the roster, including rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
That arm, combined with “his intimate knowledge of (head) coach Kevin Stefanski‘s offense,” has put Flacco securely in the lead for the starting job at the moment. That experience saw him go 4-1 late in the 2023 season as a starter and lead the Browns to the postseason for only the second time in the 20 years prior. Gabriel and Sanders haven’t been ruled out as potential Week 1 starters yet, but Cabot posits that they stand a much better chance of earning starting time later in the season.
It’s not just the coaches who see the experience and talent of Flacco, he “has the full support of big-time veterans such as All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett,” as well. Before agreeing to an extension this offseason, Garrett expressed interest in playing for a playoff contender elsewhere in large part due to the team’s handling of the quarterback position. As a result, his endorsement of Flacco speaks volumes, along with the support of other veterans.
Elsewhere in the competition, we learned a bit more on Sanders’ driving history recently. After initially reporting on a speeding incident in mid-June that saw the 23-year-old cited at 101 mph on a 60-mph road, we saw ESPN (in conjunction with the Associated Press) report that this was the second such speeding incident Sanders had been involved in that month. Reports show that Sanders was pulled over on June 5 for going 91 mph in a 65-mph zone.
Sanders, reportedly, “failed to appear for an arraignment for that citation and faces $269 in fines and court costs” as a result. He faces a $250 fine for his most recent citation, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. His second ticket was received as he was pulled over alongside his girlfriend, who was driving 92 mph in a separate car. Despite the two traveling together at high speeds in separate vehicles, reports claim that there is “no suggestion that the two may have been racing,” according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports.
Following an unprecedented draft slide that resulted from character concerns for the Colorado alumnus, speeding incidents are not a great sign of development early in his professional career. Repeated offenses look even worse for the young passer, and if any suggestions of racing do emerge from his driving citations, things could go from bad to worse.
One QB gotta go. Sanders is building his case
The Browns really put themselves into a bind by picking Sanders after picking Gabriel in the 3 rd round. They re now in a no win situation unless Sanders continues to play the fool.
I think Flac starts this year and Gabriel takes the reigns next year
…like a jockey. Appropriate.
Lol! Well played
he lead them to the playoffs and they told him to hit the road for our predator.
then they are going to keep a baby handed toddler over him.