The 2025 season is quickly approaching, and I’m ready to erase memories of the team’s dismal 3-14 season. One of the talking points when the regular season rolls around will be how veteran QB Joe Flacco — assuming he is named the starter — can rekindle some of that magic Cleveland had the last time they were good, which was the 2023 season.
But Flacco won’t play in the first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. Neither will QB Kenny Pickett or QB Dillon Gabriel. Instead, it’ll be the team’s fourth — and perhaps most talked about — quarterback in rookie Shedeur Sanders. That leads us into the first of our 10 things I’m looking for in the first preseason game.
BEREA, OHIO – JULY 28: Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns signs autographs after Cleveland Browns training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 28, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) Getty Images
1. How Up to Speed is Shedeur Sanders? This is a bit of a crazy moment, given how Sanders has basically not had any first-team reps during the first ten days of training camp. And yet, the most-hyped quarterback on the roster (at least outside of Cleveland) is being thrust into the starting role for the team’s first preseason game.
While I feel that Flacco has a leg up to be the team’s starting quarterback in Week 1, the backup and No. 3 quarterback jobs seem wide open to me. I feel like there is going to be a mix of Cleveland wanting someone to establish themselves as the backup, but also wanting someone to impress enough to where they’d have some trade value. If Sanders does well against the Panthers, great! But does that move him up the depth chart, or does it give Andrew Berry leverage to try to flip the fifth-round pick into a third-round pick, for example? I think there are multiple scenarios at play here, but either way, we want Sanders to perform well. I’m not sure how realistic that outcome will be since he’s scheduled to go up against the Panthers’ first-team defense for a series or two.
2. Field Goal Confidence: One of the Browns’ big downfalls last year was the play of K Dustin Hopkins. After ten days of training camp, we’ve oddly seen very little from the kickers in terms of drills. If the Browns get a few field goal situations set up, we need to see Hopkins put them through the uprights — any NFL team can’t afford a second season of their kicker being in his own head.
3. Return Units: We have heard about some of the kick/punt return reps in camp, but it’ll also be telling who is first up for those roles this week. We should see DeAndre Carter, but maybe one of the younger guys on the back end of the depth chart makes a nice play?
BEREA, OHIO – JULY 25: Wide receiver Luke Floriea #37 of the Cleveland Browns watches during training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 25, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) Getty Images
4. Young Receivers: The Browns will be without Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman for the game. David Bell is still recovering from last year’s injury, and Michael Woods was waived. That means there is a whole game for receivers like Jamari Thrash, Luke Floriea, Gage Larvadain, and others to try to make an impression. Floriea is a popular local name and has had a good camp, but Larvadain has also been solid. Could this be the year that Cleveland finds their next Taylor Gabriel (an undrafted free agent gem at receiver)?
5. Top Rookie Defenders: The Browns’ top two picks of this year’s draft class were DT Mason Graham and LB Carson Schwesinger. It’s hard to see how the front seven perform in camp when contact isn’t typically encouraged, so it’ll be exciting to get a glimpse of what both players offer up front. Graham is part of a talented defensive line, while Schwesinger takes the reins of the linebacker position after the retirement of Jordan Hicks and JOK being out for the year.
6. Who Will the 3rd CB Be? The season-ending injury to Martin Emerson sucks for numerous reasons, and now Cleveland needs to find who a big piece of their defense will be in replacing him. Cameron Mitchell and Myles Harden are possible contenders, but I’m viewing the job as wide open.
BEREA, OHIO – JUNE 10: Dylan Sampson #22 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill during Cleveland Browns mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) Diamond Images/Getty Images
7. Running Back Situation: The biggest letdown of the start to this season is probably the deflation I have at the running back position. The departure of Nick Chubb sucked to see, but we were able to cover for it by hyping what Quinshon Judkins brings to the table. Now, Judkins’ future and status is in doubt due to his off-the-field situation. We’re back to Jerome Ford, who I still like but feel he lacks vision. Dylan Sampson is a rookie back to look forward too, though, even if it’s not as the starter.
8. A Familiar-Looking Offense? The Browns are supposed to be “back” to Kevin Stefanski’s offense this year. Teams will be vanilla with their preseason playcalling, but I’m still looking to see the flavor of his playbook on display.
9. Fans of Fannin: I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see veteran TE David Njoku to kick off the preseason, but rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. should suit up. Earlier, I mentioned about Cleveland not having an established third receiver, but I want to see an early look on how the team anticipates Fannin lining up in this offense.
10. Debating With the Fans: Stay tuned to Dawgs By Nature during our live game threads. This year has a combination of proven talent on the Browns, but also a lot of key roster spots with question marks and open competition, so I’m ready to engage in all of that during and after the game. I’ll also start formulating my first 53-man roster projection soon.