The Cleveland Browns are likely to have a fluid situation at quarterback starting early in the year, which may well prove fortuitous for rookie Shedeur Sanders.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported that the Browns won’t fear transitioning away from starter Joe Flacco if he struggles during the team’s difficult opening stretch of schedule, which would almost certainly mean a move to backup QB and Sanders’ fellow rookie, Dillon Gabriel.
“The Browns will start Joe Flacco for as long as he’s operating the offense effectively, and winning games,” Cabot wrote Sunday, August 31. “But if he’s turning the ball over or taking sacks, the Browns will hand the reins to Gabriel without hesitation. They loved what they saw of Gabriel in camp and preseason games, and won’t hesitate to start him even if it’s early in the season. As for Sanders, he’ll also get some live action this season, but probably not until later in the season when he’s more seasoned.”
Joe Flacco Likely to Struggle Early, Accelerate Debuts for Dillon Gabriel and Possibly Shedeur Sanders
GettyQuarterback Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns.
Flacco is now 40 years old and could be on the cusp of his last campaign in the NFL.
He played last season for the Indianapolis Colts, starting six games with a 2-4 record and appearing in eight contests total while throwing for 1,761 yards, 12 TDs and seven INTs. While those numbers are reasonable from a traditional standpoint, Flacco’s advanced metrics were more problematic.
With the Colts, Flacco made eight big-time throws compared to 11 turnover-worthy plays. He also had a pressure-to-sack rate of more than 23 percent. Cleveland’s questions at the offensive tackle positions and the uncertainty surrounding its ability to run the football effectively could amplify both Flacco’s mobility issues and his propensity to commit turnovers, which have both probably worsened after another year gone by.
Given all that, and the Browns’ several roster holes on both sides of the football, it is more likely than not that Flacco struggles early and often. Throw in the fact that Cleveland plays the juggernaut Cincinnati Bengals‘ offense and five playoff teams from a year ago over the first six weeks of the season, and Gabriel could be in far sooner than traditional logic might suggest.
Dillon Gabriel’s Play Will Prove Deciding Factor On If, When Shedeur Sanders Starts for Browns
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
The earlier Gabriel comes in, the sooner Sanders is likely to get his shot.
How Cleveland plays Gabriel’s time as the starter, assuming it comes, will be interesting to watch. The Browns certainly won’t want to ruin him, but as a rookie they believe in, Gabriel is likely to get a long leash if, and when, he becomes the starter.
If the team is winning and/or Gabriel is clearly excelling, Sanders may not get his chance. However, that could work out too, as Cleveland would be more likely to put Sanders on the trade block come the offseason, and he could get a head start establishing himself elsewhere.
If Gabriel plays okay but the the Browns struggle, then maybe Sanders gets the last few games of the season to start. And if Gabriel fails to prove himself a worthy QB1 over an extended opportunity, maybe Sanders enters the lineup sooner with a chance to win the job longterm.
In any case, Cabot’s report that Sanders will get real run in 2025 is good news for the rookie, who is only looking for a shot to prove himself. Her further reporting that Cleveland will move on quickly from Flacco to Gabriel if the former struggles is also good news for Sanders, because it means a better chance for that shot to arrive sooner than later.
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