HEADLINES

Cleveland Browns News & Rumors

Browns, Jaguars Swap Greg Newsome, Tyson Campbell

October 9th, 2025 at 10:32am CST by Ben Levine

OCTOBER 9: The deal is now official. As part of the agreement, Jacksonville will take on a dead cap charge of $19.5MM in 2026, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports. The Jags are not retaining any of Campbell’s remaining salary, and they will free up nearly $50MM in cap space for the 2027 and ’28 campaigns with Campbell off the books by that point.

OCTOBER 8: The Browns and Jaguars are swapping starting cornerbacks. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Browns are sending Greg Newsome and the Jets’ 2026 sixth-round pick to the Jaguars for Tyson Campbell and the Eagles’ 2026 7th-round pick.

This is a sudden move involving a pair of defensive backs who were expected to guide their respective teams’ secondaries for years to come. The two players haven’t played up to their usual standards in 2025, so perhaps the organizations are hoping a fresh start can revitalize their respective acquisitions.

Campbell, a 2021 second-round pick, inked a lucrative four-year, $76.50MM extension ($53.40MM guaranteed) with the Jaguars about 15 months ago. The Georgia product looked the part of a star cornerback through his first two NFL seasons. He collected 143 tackles and five interceptions between those campaigns, with Pro Football Focus grading him as the league’s seventh-best CB in 2022.

He’s ranked below league-average in those same metrics in each of the past two-plus seasons. Campbell dealt with various injuries in both 2023 and 2024, missing a combined 11 games. While PFF only ranked him 71st among 106 qualifiers this season, the Jaguars have been especially reliant on him, with the cornerback appearing in 99 percent of his team’s defensive snaps through five games.

Newsome, a 2021 first-round pick, is currently playing on the final season of his rookie contract (via the fifth-year option). The cornerback was one of Cleveland’s defensive standouts through his first three seasons in the NFL, but he was demoted to a backup role in 2024. He ultimately finished last season with 27 tackles and one interception while getting into about 70 percent of his team’s defensive snaps in 13 appearances.

He was back starting alongside Denzel Ward to begin the 2025 campaign. He appeared in 95 percent of his team’s defensive snaps through five starts, collecting 23 stops. PFF currently has him ranked 40th at his position.

From the Browns perspective, the team may be anticipating a sell-off, and Campbell would represent a future piece over the expiring Newsome. With the Jaguars sitting at 4-1, the team is presumably looking to load up for a postseason run, and the front office clearly considers Newsome as an upgrade over Campbell, especially since they’ll be facing a significant dead cap hit after dealing their CB so soon after agreeing to an extension.

Jacksonville’s acquisition could also have an impact on how the team utilizes second-overall pick Travis Hunter. While both Newsome and Campbell have primarily played as outside CBs this season, the newest Jaguar has extensive experience playing in the nickel. That could open up an opportunity for Hunter to line up opposite Jourdan Lewis in the team’s base defense.

Shedeur Sanders Uncertain To Move Into Browns’ QB2 Role; Latest On Deshaun Watson

October 8th, 2025 at 9:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shedeur Sanders‘ eventful 2025 included early buzz about being a top-five pick, before a freefall to Round 5 capped a regrettable pre-draft process. The rookie went from Cleveland’s QB4 during training camp to preseason starter, due to other passers’ injuries, and then saw the team’s Kenny Pickett trade shake up the depth chart.

The Browns installed Sanders as their No. 3 option, and that did not change after they demoted Joe Flacco to start Dillon Gabriel. Flacco worked as Cleveland’s backup in Week 5, with Sanders stuck at QB3. Even though Flacco has since followed Pickett out the door via trade, Kevin Stefanski stopped short of confirming Sanders would be the team’s backup moving forward.

Bailey Zappe resides on the Browns’ practice squad. Stefanski said (via the Lorain Morning Journal’s Jeff Schudel) he was not ready to name a backup as of Wednesday, calling into question Sanders’ role once again. Although Sanders is believed to have shown improvement and received additional work post-practice, maturity concerns have presented themselves.

Multiple speeding violations occurred in the offseason, and Sanders took a strange step when interviewed following the news of Gabriel’s promotion last week. As could be expected, the Colorado alum pantomiming answers to media questions went over oddly. While Sanders held a discussion with Browns officials (per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport) about his decision to conduct a silent press conference of sorts, the Browns not turning to him as their unquestioned backup post-Flacco does not exactly paint a glowing picture of the fifth-rounder’s organizational standing.

Jimmy Haslam said in August the Browns needed to see both Gabriel and Sanders play before determining their 2026 draft path. Sanders’ scout-team work in practice has led to a role as the team’s emergency QB3, meaning (thanks to the Brock Purdy rule) he could only play if the team’s first two passers went down. Zappe rejoined the Browns after the Chiefs cut him in training camp and has resided on the team’s practice squad since. The Browns could elevate Zappe for Week 6 without making a corresponding roster move.

If Cleveland elevates Zappe over Sanders, more attention will be paid to the latter’s development (or lack thereof). It would lend more weight to the narrative ownership wanted Sanders while Stefanski and Andrew Berry did not. Haslam and Berry denied such an order took place, of course, though the Browns circling back to Sanders after choosing Gabriel in Round 3 remains an unusual route. A value-based play led Sanders to Ohio. The Browns want Sanders to be ready if/when he is called upon. A former Patriots draftee, Zappe has made nine NFL starts — including one with the Browns last season — and would make sense as a stopgap backup while Sanders continues to acclimate.

The Browns, of course, technically have four quarterbacks rostered. Deshaun Watson remains on the team’s reserve/PUP list. It has long been viewed as unlikely the Browns will deploy Watson this season, and Rapoport adds nothing is believed to have changed on that front.

Watson is recovering a second Achilles tear. The high-priced quarterback submitted woeful work last season, with Stefanski repeatedly asked to justify why he had not benched him. Because of the five-year, fully guaranteed $230MM extension Watson signed in 2022 (and the numerous restructures the team has made for cap purposes), he remains on Cleveland’s roster.

Stefanski declined to address the prospect of Watson playing this season, indicating he is “so focused on this week.” Watson resumed throwing in mid-May but spent camp on the active/PUP list before being transferred to the reserve/PUP list in late August. Over the summer, some in the embattled QB’s camp were optimistic he would be cleared in late October or early November, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. But nothing has come to pass yet.

Considering Haslam admitted the trade was a mistake, it would surprise if Watson played for the Browns again. But with Pickett and Flacco gone, the QB technically has fewer obstacles in his path. Though, the Browns’ need to evaluate Gabriel and Sanders — and the team’s natural interest in the 2026 QB class — would interfere with a Watson return.

“He’s doing an excellent job with his rehab,” Stefanski said, via Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons. “We haven’t seen him as part of the throwing process with the team and those types of things. But he’s working very hard. He’s doing a great job in the meeting room.”

Traded Draft Picks For 2026

October 8th, 2025 at 8:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Many months remain before teams know where they are picking in the 2026 draft, but many clubs have made moves to acquire 2026 draft capital. Headlined by the Browns, Rams and Cowboys’ efforts, here are the 2026 picks to have changed hands thus far. When more deals involving picks are made (or conditions on moves already completed become known), that information will be added.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/8/25

October 8th, 2025 at 7:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

With starting cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold both sidelined (along with backup Khalil Dorsey), the Lions have brought in some veteran reinforcement at the position. Arthur Maulet brings 85 games of experience to Detroit, although he’s struggled to carve out a starting role throughout his career. The cornerback has mostly served as a depth piece in stops with the Saints, Colts, Jets, Steelers, and Ravens. He spent the past two seasons in Baltimore, where he compiled 42 tackles and a pair of sacks in 17 appearances.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/25

October 8th, 2025 at 6:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

San Francisco 49ers

Khalil Dorsey was recently nursing a wrist injury, and that issue will now sideline him for at least the next four games, as the cornerback landed on injured reserve today. After getting into the first four games of the season for the Lions, Dorsey didn’t see the field for Week 5. The majority of his playing time has come on special teams this season.

Kevin Givens is back at practice after landing on IR before the season even started. The defensive tackle has been working his way back from a pectoral injury that wiped out the first month of his 2025 campaign. According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, the defensive lineman will be evaluated throughout the week to determine his availability for Week 6. Givens is coming off a 2024 season where he compiled a career-high 3.5 sacks.

Bengals To Start QB Joe Flacco In Week 6

October 8th, 2025 at 1:45pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor announced Wednesday (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.) newly acquired quarterback Joe Flacco will take all the reps in practice this week and start against the Packers on Sunday.

Trading for Flacco expressed Cincinnati’s clear desire to make a change at quarterback after three straight losses with Jake Browning under center. They will make the switch right away, which will force Flacco to quickly get up to speed in his new offense.

The Bengals were hoping Browning could keep the offense afloat after Joe Burrow‘s injury and keep their season alive in case the two-time Pro Bowler makes a return late in the year. Instead, Browning threw multiple interceptions in three of his four games, handicapping Cincinnati on both sides of the ball.

Historically light in terms of in-season player acquisition volume in trades, the Bengals bent on their usual stance after Browning threw three more interceptions in a one-sided loss to the Lions. They acquired Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Browns for a 2026 fifth. Flacco also struggled with INTs with the Browns, leading to his benching, and Pro Football Focus ranking the Bengals’ O-line 32nd through five games still could create a high degree of difficulty for the statuesque trade pickup. But the Bengals were sinking fast; they will try Flacco immediately.

Taylor left the door open to a Browning benching, after previously voicing support for Burrow’s backup, after Week 5. The team considered several QB options early this week, and VP of player personnel Duke Tobin brought Flacco to Taylor’s attention (via ESPN.com’s Ben Baby) to gauge the coach’s interest before making the deal. As could be expected, Kevin Stefanski confirmed (via The Athletic’s Zac Jackson) the Bengals made the first trade contact on the QB. After Taylor gave his approval, another Ohio learning curve will take place for Flacco.

While Flacco will be in the historically interesting position of facing the Packers twice in three weeks with two different teams, he has considerable success picking up an offense on the fly. His first Browns stint, though, did feature a longer ramp-up period.

With Deshaun Watson suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, the Browns initially signed Flacco on Nov. 19, 2023. They faced the Broncos with Dorian Thompson-Robinson at the controls days later, not turning to Flacco until the following week. Flacco debuted Dec. 3 and lost his first start (to the Rams). The aging QB, who did not receive much free agency interest that offseason, proceeded to win his next four starts to move the injury-battered Browns to a surprising wild-card berth. That earned him Comeback Player of the Year acclaim and Stefanski his second Coach of the Year honor.

The Bengals will give Flacco a similar assignment, counting on the 18th-year veteran to salvage a sinking season. He will team with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown. Although Flacco played with Amari Cooper in 2023, the Chase-Higgins combo will easily be the best of his career. While challenges present themselves in terms of Cincy’s O-line keeping Flacco upright, the team’s pass-catching talent will make this an interesting experiment.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Bengals Acquire Joe Flacco From Browns

October 7th, 2025 at 10:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals have indeed changed their tune on a quarterback trade. They will make an intra-AFC North swap, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reporting the team is set to acquire Joe Flacco from the Browns. The deal is now official pending a physical.

Cleveland will acquire a fifth-round pick from Cincinnati, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds this pick-swap exchange will involve a sixth going back to the Bengals. The sixth going to Cincy is originally a Detroit selection from the November 2024 Za’Darius Smith trade. The picks are in the 2026 draft, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.

After Zac Taylor indicated Jake Browning‘s starting job was in jeopardy, the Bengals will acquire a QB — just not one previously mentioned could be in play. As should be expected, the Bengals (per Schefter) want Flacco to be ready for their Week 6 game against the Packers.

[RELATED: Flacco Did Not Request Trade From Browns]

Rather than a bigger swing for Russell Wilson or Kirk Cousins, the Bengals — already rostering a $55MM-per-year contract via the September 2023 Joe Burrow extension — will take on Flacco’s one-year, $4.25MM deal. Only $1.26MM of that is tied up in base salary, meaning the Bengals will only be on the hook for around $1MM in additional salary. The Browns will take on $999K in 2025 dead money and, due to void years on Flacco’s deal, $1.4MM in 2026, per Spotrac.

This marks the third time Flacco has been traded. The Broncos obtained the former Super Bowl MVP from the Ravens in 2019, and the Jets reacquired him from the Eagles in 2021. No calls went to the Giants on Wilson or Jameis Winston, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. As of Sunday morning, no calls were believed to have gone out. A rough Browning showing against the Lions looks to have changed the team’s stance. While New York retains its Wilson-Winston-Jaxson Dart quarterback room, Cleveland has dealt into its previous four-man competition once again.

This will be Flacco’s seventh NFL destination, and he is now a Steelers stop from completing the AFC North cycle. The Browns benched the 40-year-old passer ahead of their Week 5 London trip, going with Dillon Gabriel. Cleveland’s QB depth chart — which once housed both Flacco and Kenny Pickett — has changed significantly over the past several weeks. Cleveland sent Pickett to Las Vegas just before the season. This marks the team’s third QB trade (for a veteran), as it also acquired Pickett from Philadelphia in March, this year.

Receiving poor play from Browning — after he had proved surprisingly effective in 2023 — the Bengals had been calling teams on QBs for the past 48 hours, Rapoport adds. This is just the third in-season player acquisition via trade since 1973 for the Bengals, who obtained offensive lineman B.J. Finney in 2020 and running back Khalil Herbert last season. It is a last-ditch move aimed at salvaging a season that has skidded well off track following Burrow’s toe injury.

This marks the first time the Bengals have obtained a player from a division rival in a trade since they landed Hall of Fame wide receiver Charlie Joiner and linebacker Ron Pritchard for running backs Paul Robinson and Fred Willis from the then-AFC Central rival Oilers, SI.com’s Jay Morrison notes. This marks just the third time this century division rivals have swapped veteran QBs. Although this has happened before the 21st century, the 2002 Drew Bledsoe and 2010 Donovan McNabb swaps (h/t ESPN’s Evan Kaplan) mark the only such instances since 2000.

This move also comes eight years after the Bengals and Browns nearly made a trade involving Cincinnati backup QB A.J. McCarron. The Browns had been close to acquiring McCarron, but the deal was not finalized in time. The teams will link up on this Flacco swap nearly a month before this year’s trade deadline.

The Browns and Bengals faced off in Week 1, with Flacco facing Burrow. By the sides’ Week 18 rematch, Cincy hopes to have Burrow back at the controls. After losing three straight blowouts, the Bengals looked closer to eventually determining Burrow would need to be shelved for the season’s remainder. Now, they will hope Flacco can elevate their offense in hopes of revitalizing contention hopes in what could be Trey Hendrickson‘s final season in Cincinnati.

In Week 1, the Bengals edged a Flacco-quarterbacked Browns team 17-16. Cleveland doubled up Cincinnati in first downs (22-11), and Flacco completed 31 of 45 passes for 290 yards. He threw a touchdown pass and two interceptions, but both picks came on drops by Browns receivers. Flacco, though, has been unable to curb his INT trend, leading to the Gabriel promotion. The 18th-year veteran threw four more INTs from Weeks 2-4, completing just 58.1% of his passes at an anemic 5.1 yards per attempt. Flacco’s weaponry situation will improve significantly, however, following this trade.

Although Flacco is not exactly the most stable option, his 2023 Cleveland cameo shows the upgrade Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins could see. The Browns added Flacco on a practice squad deal that year, giving him five starts following Deshaun Watson‘s season-ending injury. Flacco led a team missing Nick Chubb and both starting tackles to the playoffs, going 4-1 as a starter and winning Comeback Player of the Year acclaim.

The Browns flamed out in the wild-card round and did not make Flacco an offer to stay, making a final bid to build around Watson in 2024. Flacco ended up in Indianapolis as Anthony Richardson insurance, but after the Colts signed Daniel Jones this offseason, he returned to Cleveland as the elder statesman in an otherwise young QB room.

Making 195 career starts, the former 11-year Ravens QB1 prevailed in the Browns’ four-man quarterback competition this summer. It did not turn out to be very close, as a Pickett hamstring injury removed him from the running. Pickett is now backing up Geno Smith in Las Vegas. With the Browns undoubtedly eyeing a 2026 draft move for a longer-term replacement, Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders‘ presences notwithstanding, the team being unconcerned with dealing a passer to help a division rival makes sense. Sanders, despite his strange mime routine following the news Flacco would be Cleveland’s QB2 following the Gabriel elevation, should also be expected to rise from QB3 to QB2 on Cleveland’s depth chart.

Browning will be set to slide down Cincinnati’s. After replacing an injured Burrow more effectively in 2023, Browning proved woeful — save for some garbage-time work against the Lions — in his second Cincy starter stint. He threw eight interceptions in four games, including three against Detroit in Week 5.

The Bengals lost by a combined 113-37 against the Vikings, Broncos and Lions. Taylor had gone from offering Browning support ahead of Week 5 to walking it back following the home loss to the Lions. The 2-3 team is throwing a Hail Mary of sorts in Flacco, but the operation was careening off the rails with Browning running the show.

Flacco went 2-4 as a Colts starter last season, and while he posted a 12:7 TD-INT ratio, his form did not closely rival the 2023 Cleveland work. The Bengals also have experienced O-line issues for years. Going into Week 5, Pro Football Focus ranked Cincinnati’s O-line last in the NFL. The stationary QB could struggle behind that quintet, even though he operated well without then-Browns starting tackles Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin late in the ’23 season.

This will be a wildly interesting experiment for the Bengals, who paid up to extend both Chase and Higgins this offseason. Browning’s form had reduced the marquee receivers’ value; the team will hope Flacco can restore it while Burrow rehabs. A mid-December return is viewed as the goal for Burrow. Flacco helping at least restore offensive competency would stand to keep that hope in play.

Joe Flacco Did Not Request Trade From Browns

October 7th, 2025 at 5:10pm CST by Connor Byrne

Quarterback Joe Flacco‘s second stint in Cleveland ended when the Browns surprisingly traded him to AFC North rival Cincinnati on Tuesday. Flacco did not request a trade, but he did welcome the move and a chance at more playing time, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.

After spending last season with the Colts, Flacco rejoined the Browns on a one-year contract last April. That came after the Browns acquired fellow veteran signal-caller Kenny Pickett in a trade with the Eagles. Continuing a makeover of their QB room, the Browns went on to select Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the draft.

With Gabriel and Sanders around as developmental prospects, Flacco and Pickett entered training camp as the front-runners to earn the starting job. Flacco ultimately won the role with ease after Pickett suffered a hamstring injury early in the summer. The Browns wound up trading Pickett to the Raiders in late August, leaving Flacco as the veteran mentor to the two rookies.

At 40 years old, Flacco was never expected to be anything more than a Band-Aid for the Browns. The team pulled the plug on Flacco earlier than expected, though, after he threw two touchdowns against six interceptions during a 1-3 start. Gabriel took over as the starter before last Sunday’s 21-17 loss to the Vikings.

The left-handed Gabriel went without a turnover in his debut and completed 19 of 33 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. It may be a long shot, but he’ll have a chance to establish himself as the Browns’ long-term starter. Either Sanders or practice squad QB Bailey Zappe could back up Gabriel against the Steelers on Sunday.

Flacco is again in a stopgap role in Cincinnati, but he is joining a talented offense that includes a few high-end weapons, including wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. He could start as early as this week against Green Bay in place of Jake Browning, whose poor performance filling in for the injured Joe Burrow necessitated a QB trade. The 2-3 Bengals suffered three straight ugly losses under Browning, who has matched Flacco’s INT total (eight, with six TDs) this season. Flacco led the Browns to their only 2025 victory — over the Packers — in Week 3.

Thanks to Browning’s immense struggles, the Bengals discussed “several” different signal-callers over the past 48 hours, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. The Bengals ended up swinging a deal with their in-state rivals for Flacco, who they hope will play well enough to keep them alive in the AFC North race.

Browns’ Greg Newsome, David Njoku On Trade Radar?

October 7th, 2025 at 3:37pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Browns made a noteworthy trade Tuesday when they sent quarterback Joe Flacco and a sixth-round pick to the division rival Bengals for a fifth-rounder. With the Nov. 4 trade deadline nearing, the Browns may not be done shipping out players. Cornerback Greg Newsome and tight end David Njoku are among the names to watch leading up to the deadline, according to Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports.

Newsome has been a career-long Brown since they selected him 26th overall in the 2021 draft. He has since started in 47 of 59 games, including all five this year, and totaled three interceptions. Newsome came up in trade rumors multiple times during the offseason.

A deal never came together, though, and the former first-round cornerback made it clear in August that he wanted to remain a Brown for the rest of his career. The team then lost Martin Emerson for the season, giving Newsome more role stability. Emerson has played 95% of Cleveland’s defensive snaps through five games.

Newsome may want to stay in Cleveland, but he’s facing an uncertain future as a soon-to-be free agent. He’s due to reach the open market in March after playing this season under his his fifth-year option (worth $13.38MM). The Browns could move the 25-year-old for draft-pick compensation in the next few weeks if they don’t plan to retain him during the offseason.

Njoku, now in his ninth year, joins Newsome as a career-long Brown and a pending free agent. He surfaced in trade rumors alongside Newsome around this time last year. As is the case with Newsome, though, he has yet to change hands.

In the first three seasons after inking a four-year, $56.75MM extension in May 2022, Njoku averaged 14 games, 68 catches, 100 targets, 672 yards and five touchdowns per campaign. Five games into 2025, Njoku is on a similar pace, having racked up 20 catches on 30 targets for 195 yards and a TD.

Among Browns pass catchers, Njoku’s 84.4 percent snap share ranks second behind wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (86.4). It’s also worth noting that he showed chemistry with Dillon Gabriel in the rookie quarterback’s first start last week, catching six of nine targets for 67 yards and a score.

Although Njoku remains a key figure in the Browns’ offense, they could feel comfortable parting with him thanks to the emergence of rookie tight end Harold Fannin. The third-round pick from Bowling Green has played 72.4 percent of the Browns’ offensive snaps and hauled in 21 of 28 targets for 173 yards and a TD. Fannin has impressed the Browns enough that his role in their offense could increase, per Dan Graziano of ESPN. That may help usher Njoku out of town in the coming weeks. At the very least, the 1-4 team’s tight end position will be worth monitoring as Fannin continues to adjust to the NFL game.

Reasoning For Shedeur Sanders’ Role As QB3

October 5th, 2025 at 7:59pm CST by Ely Allen

Opinions ran rampant this week when it was announced that the Browns would allow rookie third-round quarterback Dillon Gabriel his first career start. Nobody was angry about Gabriel getting his shot, but the additional announcement that the demoted veteran, Joe Flacco, would serve as the primary backup to Gabriel with fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders remaining QB3 had people up in arms.

Opinions have always varied on Sanders. Once considered a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Sanders suffered an unprecedented slide into the fifth round. Ever since arriving in Cleveland, Gabriel has consistently sat above Sanders in the pecking order, while both players were below Flacco and Kenny Pickett as they battled for the starting job. That’s why it made sense that, when Flacco won the job and Pickett was traded away, Gabriel was named QB2 and Sanders QB3.

But, if the Browns are willing to give one rookie quarterback a look over Flacco, why wouldn’t they also extend that courtesy on the depth chart to Sanders and make him QB2? According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, there is a very good reason.

The Browns don’t appear to be a team headed to a championship game this season, and while Flacco may give the franchise its best chance at winning games this year, he doesn’t factor into their long-term prospects, whereas both rookies could. One reason Gabriel could have some success as a rookie, though, comes down to just how different he is from Flacco.

Aside from the obvious age difference, Gabriel is quite a bit more mobile than Flacco, quite a bit smaller than Flacco, and quite a bit more left-handed than Flacco. Additionally, his consistency in avoiding turnovers in college gave the team some hope that they could put an end to the poor early-season trends. Through the first four weeks of the season, Flacco threw at least one interception in each game, totaling six picks and two lost fumbles. Today’s start with Gabriel under center was the Browns’ first this season without a turnover.

While these attributes differ Gabriel from Flacco a good deal, they also fail to align much with Sanders. Because Cleveland is now running an offense specifically catered to Gabriel, it would be difficult for either Flacco or Sanders to step into the offense if Gabriel is hurt or struggling. If this were to happen, though, Flacco’s experience and leadership as a captain of the team make him the best option to find success in an unfamiliar offense.

Putting Sanders into that position for his first ever NFL action would do him a disservice. It would be difficult for Sanders to thrive in Gabriel’s offense, and per Rapoport, “the Browns want Sanders to be successful when he’s out there.” When Cleveland finally makes the call to give Sanders a shot at the QB1 role, they want him to do so in an offense catered to him instead of one catered to the shorter, shifty, left-handed Hawaiian. So, unless multiple injuries take place, Sanders won’t be making a surprise debut; it should be announced in advance giving the team a week (or more) to develop a gameplan.

In the meantime, Sanders has continued to improve while out of the spotlight. He’s had to make up a lot of ground on Gabriel ever since they were drafted, and though he holds the official QB3 designation, there’s reason to believe he may also get an opportunity to take the reins of the offense at some point this season. Whenever that occurs, though, it’ll be after the Browns are able to design and practice a gameplan just for him.

Load More Posts