{"id":6106,"date":"2025-04-28T04:52:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T04:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/6106\/"},"modified":"2025-04-28T04:52:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T04:52:10","slug":"who-will-make-most-starts-at-qb-for-2025-browns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/6106\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Will Make Most Starts At QB For 2025 Browns?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the Browns follow the Texans in constructing an extended departure ramp for Deshaun Watson<\/a>, they have since added four quarterbacks. Each of the players would have a path to starting for a team that saw its highest-paid passer wildly disappoint before suffering two Achilles tears<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>As Watson rehabs, the Browns are effectively moving on<\/a> (though, a monumental dead money hit will loom if that happens in 2026). And the draft brought an unusual outcome. The Browns surprised most by taking Oregon\u2019s Dillon Gabriel<\/a> late in the third round<\/a>. Gabriel came off the board 94th, shortly after Jalen Milroe<\/a> but a full round before Shedeur Sanders<\/a>. Widely anticipated to go in the first or second rounds, Sanders tumbled to 144th overall. The Browns stopped his skid hours after Andrew Berry had deemed Gabriel a better fit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Becoming the rare team to select two quarterbacks in the same draft, the Browns added the rookies to a position group housing Kenny Pickett<\/a> and Joe Flacco<\/a>. (Flacco\u2019s return and the ensuing draft moves will cut off<\/a> a Kirk Cousins<\/a>-to-Cleveland path.) The former arrived via trade in March<\/a>, while the latter is back for a second tour of duty in Cleveland. Both veterans, Flacco especially, have extensive starting experience and could serve as placeholders. Though, we do not know yet who the bridge QBs will be setting up just yet.<\/p>\n

Carrying the cheapest contract of the bunch, Sanders will undoubtedly bring by far the most attention. The Browns were once connected to potentially drafting the two-year Colorado starter second overall. A historic draft fall then commenced, allowing the team to trade up (via the Seahawks<\/a>) for the polarizing prospect<\/a> in the fifth round. Cleveland certainly did not plan to draft Sanders, but the value proved too enticing. A player viewed as a top-35 (or top-five, in Mel Kiper Jr.\u2019s case) overall prospect will begin training for a potential starting role.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>QBs chosen in Round 5 or later obviously have a low percentage shot of hitting, and the NFL effectively showed how it viewed Sanders this weekend. Sanders\u2019 draft slide dwarfed Malik Willis<\/a>\u2018 from 2022, as it appeared teams deemed Deion Sanders<\/a>\u2018 son\/pupil not worth the potential distractions he may bring<\/a>. Shedeur\u2019s attitude during pre-draft visits came up as one of the reasons he fell, and he is not going to a team that has done well at the quarterback position, for the most part, since rebooting in 1999. That said, Sanders could also make the highly unusual trek from fifth-round rookie to starter. Not too much is blocking him, should outside evaluators\u2019 view be accurate (compared to a perception within the league).<\/p>\n

The Browns saw Flacco deliver one of the most memorable QB stretches since they reemerged at the turn of the century, having seen the then-38-year-old join the practice squad and serve as a stunningly effective emergency replacement for Watson. Although Flacco earned Comeback Player of the Year acclaim for his five-game run that lifted an injury-plagued Browns offense to the playoffs, he is now 40 and coming off an unremarkable Colts cameo.<\/p>\n

Indianapolis had benched Anthony Richardson<\/a> in hopes Flacco could stabilize the offense, as a potential playoff berth was deemed a priority over Richardson development<\/a>. After already subbing for an injured Richardson early last year, Flacco could not hold the job as an non-injury fill-in.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Shane Steichen benched Flacco after a three-INT game in Minnesota, and although he did return to replace Richardson late in the season (featuring a 330-yard loss to the Giants \u2014 in a game that cost the NFC East team Cam Ward<\/a>), the Browns stand to have a diminished version of the former Super Bowl MVP compared to their 2023 edition. Still, Flacco has a path to the Week 1 gig as well.<\/p>\n

Pickett could also lay claim to the role, but the Browns picking two quarterbacks by Round 5 also could lead him out of town. The former Steelers No. 20 overall pick has now been traded in back-to-back offseasons, with the second sending historically ineffective Browns backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson<\/a> to Philly. Pickett did not impress in his second Steelers season, wrapping a 24-start tenure with 13 TD passes. Pittsburgh traded Pickett after he did not respond well to the Russell Wilson<\/a> signing, as the Pitt alum sought a new team. Pickett\u2019s struggles against the Commanders led to a late-season Eagles loss, and he left his lone Jalen Hurts<\/a> relief start with a rib injury.<\/p>\n

One season remains on Pickett\u2019s rookie deal, which calls for a $2.62MM base salary. The Browns would take on that amount in dead money if they were to waive Pickett. That did not appear much of a possibility before the draft, as 2022\u2019s top QB choice arrived before Flacco to at least compete for the starting job<\/a>. But subsequent events complicate that route. Although, two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski having a crack at Pickett \u2014 after embattled OC Matt Canada did not do much with him \u2014 at least represents an intriguing wild card here.<\/p>\n

The first QB the Browns chose this year will step into the unusual spot of being overshadowed by a rookie in his own position group. Gabriel will come to Ohio having been Cleveland\u2019s preference over Sanders, but he will now have to prove it in a way he may not have before the latter investment. Ranked 148th on Daniel Jeremiah<\/a>\u2018s NFL.com big board (128 spots behind Sanders), Gabriel started throughout his college career \u2014 at Central Florida, Oklahoma and Oregon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Ducks\u2019 Bo Nix<\/a> successor played in a tougher conference, after Oregon\u2019s Big Ten move, and won the league\u2019s Offensive Player of the Year award. That did not result in draft gurus viewing the 5-foot-11 QB as anything but a Day 3 prospect, but the Browns disagreed and will give him a chance to start.<\/p>\n

While one of these QBs could be sent to the practice squad, it would be unlikely if Sanders or Gabriel cleared waivers. Pickett would also need to clear waivers to be stashed. Though, it is now easier to imagine Pickett reaching free agency than one of Cleveland\u2019s two recent QB draftees. This complicated situation will be the runaway lead Browns story moving forward, as the Myles Garrett<\/a> matter is settled. The team\u2019s QB future was supposed to loom large in the Browns regrouping with Garrett, but if this plan does not work out, Berry also secured an extra 2026 first-round pick by trading out of<\/a> the Travis Hunter<\/a> draft slot.<\/p>\n

Who will win the offseason competition? And, more importantly, who do you think will end the season as the team\u2019s primary starter? Vote in PFR\u2019s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts on this swiftly evolving setup in the comments section.<\/p>\n

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