Shedeur Sanders has been dealt a blow in the race for the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback job after it emerged that veterans on the team would prefer Joe Flacco to be the starter
Oscar Maung-Haley US Sports Reporter
06:42 ET, 06 Jul 2025
Joe Flacco looks to be the leader in the clubhouse to start week one for the Cleveland Browns(Image: Getty)
Shedeur Sanders looks to be facing an uphill battle to win the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback job after it emerged that veterans on the team would prefer Joe Flacco to start week one.
Cleveland reshaped its quarterback room this offseason, bringing back Flacco who spent last season with the Indianapolis Colts after guiding Cleveland to the playoffs in 2023. They also added Kenny Pickett via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, and selected Sanders and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the NFL Draft earlier this year.
While they also currently still have Deshaun Watson, who recently announced he got married, on their roster, the former Houston Texans quarterback is not expected to play another snap in Cleveland following his disastrous spell with the Browns.
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At the end of July, the Browns will return from their summer break for training camp, with head coach Kevin Stefanski set to cast an eye over the quartet or quarterbacks for who should win the starting gig.
And according to cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, Flacco has reportedly received the support of veterans like All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett for the starting quarterback job.
Additionally, Flacco has the added benefit of experience and knowing Stefanski’s system well, something which cannot be said of the other three.
Cabot adds the Browns also hope to see a Sam Darnold-esque career revival from Pickett, whom they acquired from the Eagles earlier this year. For that to happen, Pickett would need to beat out Darnold, and would need to play at a level he has never previously displayed at all in the NFL.
Additionally, while Stefanski is an excellent playcaller, the support system the Minnesota Vikings placed around Darnold last season was an elite one. Darnold, now of the Seattle Seahawks, was throwing to the NFL’s best wide receiver in Justin Jefferson, while his number two receiver, Jordan Addison, also enjoyed a strong sophomore season.
Joe Flacco appears to be the man who could start Week 1 for the Browns(Image: Getty)
The reality of the situation is it looks to be a dead certainty that Flacco makes the team for week one, owed to his experience and having previously ran Stefanski’s offense.
It looks unlikely the Browns would carry four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, and also unlikely that if they cut one of 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 come down to one of Pickett, Gabriel or Sanders. With the Browns having used a third-round pick on Gabriel, it seems unlikely they would burn a top-100 draft selection so quickly after having just taken the former Oregon quarterback in the spring.
That makes it a straight-up battle between Pickett and Sanders for the final spot. Sanders could have the advantage of the unknown and the ability to grow into being an NFL starter, while Pickett very much looks to be a career backup now.
However, in the event Flacco does go down injured, Stefanski may not feel comfortable starting Gabriel or Sanders – something which could lead to the latter being cut with Pickett taking the final quarterback spot on the roster.