The Cleveland Browns have four quarterbacks on the preseason roster — all of whom could start at some point in 2025.
The majority of them, or potentially even all four of them, could also be elsewhere by this time next year.
That was the line from ESPN’s NFL insider Peter Schrager on the Tuesday, June 17 edition of “The Pat McAfee Show.” Schrager first noted that it is unlikely the Browns hang onto all four QBs heading into the regular season, as no team really needs or has the roster space to carry more than three active signal-callers into Week 1. Beyond that, the injured Deshaun Watson and the final two years of his $230 million contract remain on the books.
Schrager suggested that the cuts/trades will begin in August with one of the two veteran quarterbacks, either Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett, but leaned clearly toward the latter as the more likely option.
“I would be surprised personally if both of those veteran quarterbacks are still on the roster come Week 1, and you have the two rookies,” Schrager said. “You’ve got Flacco as your starter Week 1, [Sanders] or Gabriel as your backup, then you got one who’s not active, not dressed, but is obviously still on the team.”
Schrager immediately went on to note that Flacco is likely to have a short leash because the Browns must discover if they have a QB worth keeping/starting longterm in either Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders. That would probably be the case in most scenarios around the NFL, though Cleveland’s situation is different based on a move they made earlier this preseason: a trade with Jacksonville Jaguars that will likely have the Browns picking twice early in the first round of next year’s draft.
Browns Positioned to Acquire QB High in 2026 NFL Draft
GettyCleveland Browns quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel (left) and Shedeur Sanders (right).
Both Gabriel and Sanders are likely to get their shots this season, as the Browns’ draft-day trade could potentially position them to hold the No. 1 overall pick in 2026 and have their choice of rookie quarterbacks.
It could happen if Cleveland finishes last in the league, if Jacksonville finishes last, or if both franchises finish low enough that the Browns can put together a monster trade package to jump to the top of the board.
“I know that this year is going to be very important for Shedeur [Sanders] and Dillon Gabriel, and the reason is they’re both third-round and fifth-round picks,” Schrager continued. “When you have two first-round picks of teams that are not necessarily expected to be Super Bowl contenders, quarterback is always going to be looming in every conversation. So I think [the Browns] are gonna wanna get those guys action — Gabriel and Sanders.”
Joe Flacco Best Positioned to Win Browns’ Starting Job in Week 1
GettyCleveland Browns quarterbacks Joe Flacco (left) and Shedeur Sanders (right).
Gabriel got more run with the first-team offense and against the first-team defense in mandatory minicamp, though ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Sanders “made an impression” on the Cleveland coaching staff.
Regardless of how well either Gabriel or Sanders plays throughout training camp and during preseason games, Flacco will still probably make the most sense as the starter in Week 1 from an experience standpoint and based on schematic understanding of the Browns’ system.
But Cleveland went 3-14 last season and will have several rookies in meaningful roles in 2025, which likely means significant struggles. In turn, that will probably lead to an early opportunity for either Gabriel or Sanders, depending on who wins that individual battle over the next couple of months.
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