To little surprise, Joe Flacco will begin the 2025 season atop the depth chart. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Monday that the 41-year-old will handle starting duties in Week 1. 
Flacco has long been seen as the top option for Cleveland. Injuries have been a problem for fellow veteran Kenny Pickett but also rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, leading to missed reps during training camp. Even if all four contenders had been fully available, it still would have been seen as something of an upset for anyone but Flacco to get the early nod.
Midway through the 2023 season, Flacco joined the Browns and quickly found himself handling QB1 duties. The former Super Bowl MVP helped lead the team to a 4-1 finish down the stretch and qualify for the playoffs. That track record of success and a familiarity with Stefanski’s scheme were factors weighing heavily in Flacco’s favor during training camp. After the 191-game starter received the majority of first-team reps in camp, signs pointed heavily to Stefanski’s expected announcement confirming this QB setup to begin the year.
Pickett was seen as a contender to earn the nod ahead of camp, but a hamstring injury hindered his chances of genuinely pushing for the QB1 gig. The former Steelers first-rounder was traded to the Eagles last offseason and spent 2024 as Jalen Hurts‘ backup. The trade sending him to Cleveland was understandably followed by the decision to decline his fifth-year option. As a result, the 27-year-old enters this season as a pending free agent. Doing so as a backup (at best) is certainly an unwelcomed development from his perspective.
Gabriel and Sanders have flashed potential during the preseason, and their respective development will be a key storyline for Cleveland in 2025. Gabriel drew trade interest immediately after being drafted in the third round, but despite adding Sanders on Day 3 the Browns elected to retain him. Given the presence of Flacco and Pickett at that point, questions were raised about the possibility of all four signal-callers being kept on the active roster. General manager Andrew Berry has consistently maintained he is willing to take that route.
Indeed, the latest update on that front indicated Cleveland would carry each member of the Flacco-Pickett-Gabriel-Sanders quartet on the 53-man roster following cutdowns. Deshaun Watson is expected to miss the season while recovering from his second Achilles tear, while recent addition Tyler Huntley is a candidate to be released after filling in as a healthy option under center as needed. That will not bring an end to discussions about how the Browns should proceed under center, of course.
Struggles on the part of the team in general and Flacco in particular will no doubt lead to increased calls for a change under center. Turning to one (or both) of the rookies over the course of the season could lead to valuable evaluations concerning their long-term viability as potential starters. For now, though, Flacco is set to meet his goal of playing into his 40s. That will include at least a stretch in the starting spot to open his 18th NFL season.
This was always far and away the most likely outcome. The more interesting question is who’s playing quarterback in November or December.
Answer: The QB that can best help the Browns tank.
More like who is playing QB in October. This won’t last long.
Pick a month other than September, any month.
agreed, he is the only one with hands big enough to grip a football
David Njoku is gonna be must play in dfs
In a related development, the NFL announced that
“For the 2025-2026 season any player aged 40 and above is eligible to be taken on to and off of the playing field with a golf cart” when beginning or ending their team’s series of downs.
Richardson is gonna want the NFLPA to lobby for his inclusion in that
I’m guessing pickett is gone. I realized they traded a pick for him, but they can probably get a camp casualty for him.
Or trade him to recoup the pick
Joe Flacco being starting quarterback is no surprise
Kenny Pickett will be his backup
Dillon Gabriel will likely be the #3
Sanders, he did look good in his first start of the preseason but he still has things to work on and even if he doesn’t make the Browns roster, somebody will pick him up and give him a chance so not all his lost for him if he gets released
the guy who didn’t throw a pick six and fumble has things to work on, lol. Pckett is gone. They’d probably rather keep Hundley than him. Aside from abstract he’s doing good word from clueless beat writers, what makes anyone think he should stay? We’ve seen him play a lot. He sucks.
Very little chance Sanders is outright released.
Yeah no Pickett is gone lol
Kenny Pickett is so bad lol
Flacco is the classic the longer he plays, the worse it gets guy at this point of his career. Indy found that out last year.
@realfootballfan. He’s the perfect play 6 games and see what happens. Heck they could even trade him at the deadline if someone gets hurt. The defense is typically good, and it buys some time for Gabriel or Sanders
Gasp
Browns gonna Brown.
Cleveland should have had Flacco last year. This is their apology to him. Can he play beyond seven games? Pickett might be gone. Dillon or Sanders will probaby have to improve enough to finish the season. I am pulling for Flacco staying healthy.
Cleveland should be the all time Hard Knocks team.