Shedeur Sanders looks to be up against it to win the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback job, with veterans on the roster reportedly preferring Joe Flacco to be under center in week one.
Joe Flacco appears to be the man who could start Week 1 for the Browns(Image: Getty)
Shedeur Sanders seems to be in a tough spot to secure the starting quarterback position for the Cleveland Browns, as it’s been revealed that team veterans favor Joe Flacco to kick off week one.
The Browns revamped their quarterback lineup this offseason, welcoming back Flacco who last season played with the Indianapolis Colts after leading Cleveland to the playoffs in 2023. They also brought on board Kenny Pickett through a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, and picked up Sanders and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the NFL Draft earlier this year.
While Deshaun Watson, who recently tied the knot, is still technically on their roster, the former Houston Texans quarterback is not anticipated to play another game in Cleveland following his unfortunate stint with the Browns.
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Come late July, the Browns will reconvene from their summer hiatus for training camp, where head coach Kevin Stefanski will evaluate the four quarterbacks to determine the starter.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, Flacco has reportedly earned the backing of veterans like All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett for the starting quarterback role.
Moreover, Flacco has the added advantage of experience and familiarity with Stefanski’s system, something the other three can’t claim.
Cabot also mentioned that the Browns are hoping for a career revival from Pickett, similar to Sam Darnold’s transformation, whom they acquired from the Eagles earlier this year. For this to happen, Pickett would need to outperform Darnold and showcase a level of play he has yet to demonstrate in the NFL.
Moreover, while Stefanski is a top-notch playcaller, the support system that the Minnesota Vikings provided for Darnold last season was exceptional. Darnold, who now plays for the Seattle Seahawks, had the privilege of throwing to the NFL’s best wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, while his second receiver, Jordan Addison, also had an impressive sophomore season.
Former NFL player T.J. Houshmandzadeh has claimed that Shedeur Sanders and Joe Flacco are behind Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett in the Browns pecking order(Image: Getty)
The reality is, it seems almost certain that Flacco will make the team for week one, thanks to his experience and familiarity with Stefanski’s offense.
It appears unlikely that the Browns would keep four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, and it’s also doubtful that if they released either Gabriel or Sanders, they would clear waivers so Cleveland could add them to their practice squad.
The final two quarterback spots on the 53-man roster will be a contest between Pickett, Gabriel, or Sanders. Given that the Browns used a third-round pick on Gabriel, it seems improbable they would waste a top-100 draft selection so soon after drafting the former Oregon quarterback in the spring.
This sets the stage for a direct competition between Pickett and Sanders for the final spot. Sanders might have the upper hand due to his potential and the possibility of evolving into an NFL starter, while Pickett seems destined to be a career backup.
However, if Flacco were to get injured, Stefanski might not feel confident starting Gabriel or Sanders – a situation that could result in Sanders being cut and Pickett securing the final quarterback spot on the roster.