CLEVELAND, Ohio – For the first time in three years, Kevin Stefanski has the option of picking a quarterback not named Deshaun Watson to start for the Browns.
The Browns coach will never say, but it is a major plus for him and the team.
The decision to trade for Watson and pay him a salary-cap-eating contract put pressure on the coaching staff to make it work with Watson.
They had to make it work when it was clear it wasn’t working … and wasn’t going to work.
They felt compelled to play him because of the massive investment made in the quarterback.
Now, the Browns and Stefanski can start fresh when it comes to the quarterbacks – and the Browns have four of them (not counting the injured Watson) available.
Critics will argue that if you have four quarterbacks, you really have none.
I’ll counter with this: It was obvious early in the 2024 season they had no quarterback. Watson looked lost, his confidence shaken. His three-year Browns career consisted of a 9-10 record as a starter with 19 TD passes compared to 12 interceptions.
Yet, they kept playing them because of pressure to do so.
The Browns are much better off with their current – albeit uncertain – collection of quarterbacks than they would be with Watson even if he had not torn his Achilles.
Illustration by Ted Crow for Crowquill. The Browns quarterback room is slightly claustrophobic with the editions of Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders via the draft.Ted Crow
Why Dillon Gabriel?
As the rookies report for workouts this weekend, Stefanski and new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will begin evaluating Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. I listed Gabriel first because the Browns drafted him (third round) before Sanders (fifth round).
Over and over, Browns GM Andrew Berry talked about following “the draft board” when it came to making selections.
That means they had Gabriel rated over Sanders, even if Sanders comes with more hype … and even if the vast majority of draft experts rated Sanders higher than Gabriel. I’ve written two stories about Sanders.
Several readers have emailed, “What about Gabriel?”
Fact is, the Browns like Gabriel and wanted the QB who played six years in college and started 63 games.
Why?
Cleveland.com’s Lance Reisland did a video breakdown of the 25-year-old lefty QB and wrote this:
Gabriel’s outstanding throwing fundamentals and solid footwork, coupled with a great understanding of the offense, are traits that are often more important at the NFL level than pure measurables. His timing, poise, and anticipation suggest he has the mental makeup to thrive in a pro-style offense, especially one like Stefanski’s that values quick decision-making and rhythm-based passing.
The fact that he consistently throws on time with anticipation and accuracy also implies a deep understanding of route concepts and defensive coverages, which should ease his transition to the NFL.
Gabriel also throws the football extremely well on the move and from different launch points, which are foundational traits of Stefanski’s hybrid West Coast system. The Browns head coach and play-caller loves to use heavy, physical run schemes to set up play-action passes with consistent, easy reads for his quarterbacks.
Illustration by Ted Crow for Crowquill. The Browns sign quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year deal.Ted Crow
The big picture
Now, the Browns can begin to evaluate the two rookies in the meeting rooms, breaking down videos and on the practice field. Sanders will have to show he’s serious and prepared as the Browns throw a whole new offense at him. Gabriel will have to demonstrate the Browns were right when they rated him much higher than other teams because of his extensive college experience and savvy ability to complete passes despite being only 5-foot-11.
Stefanski has said the quarterback job will be an open competition.
My guess is Kenny Pickett perhaps has the early edge to start. The Browns traded for him and believe the former Steeler/Eagle can become the next Sam Darnold. A first-round pick by the Jets in 2018, Darnold failed in New York. He bounced to Carolina and San Francisco before reviving his career with Minnesota in 2024. Darnold is now with Seattle.
Joe Flacco is back, a consummate pro who thrived in Stefanski’s offense in 2023. The 40-year-old Flacco was up and down with the Colts last season, but I’ll take him. So will Stefanski.
Between Pickett and Flacco, the Browns can probably find someone to deliver respectable QB play – especially compared with the Watson Era.
Then there are the two rookies – Gabriel and Sanders.
There will be a lot of talk about how Stefanski can find enough snaps to evaluate all four QBs and pick a starter.
The Browns started four QBs in 2024. It was five in 2023. Guys get hurt. Guys struggle. Four QBs is not a problem. Someone will end up on the practice squad. Perhaps one of the veterans will be traded right before the season opens, as Josh Dobbs was in 2023.
What I like is Stefanski has the freedom to pick his own starter. Yes, Sanders has the media attention. But he is a fifth-round pick. I doubt ownership, the front office or anyone else will push Stefanski to play Sanders. This is not Deshaun Watson or even Johnny Manziel, who was a first-round pick in 2014.
Sanders was the No. 144 pick in the 2025 draft.
“Our message to him … is you have to come in here and work,” said Berry. “You’ve got to compete. That’s the message. Nothing is given.”
That’s how it should be.
Just as this QB setup is how it should be for Stefanski. Go ahead coach, it’s all yours: Pick your guy.