Browns’ Kevin Stefanski Expected to Favor $14M QB as Week 1 Starter

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has four reasonable options when it comes to the starting quarterback for the team’s season opener September 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

But just like QBs have wide receiver and route preferences, coaches have preferences when it comes to signal-callers and their skill sets.

Stefanski is no different, and based on the offensive design he favors, Lance Reisland of Cleveland.com expects the coach to favor Kenny Pickett above the likes of rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders — and even more than veteran Joe Flacco, with whom the Browns reunited in free agency this spring.

Reisland explained his rationale on Tuesday, July 1.

Kenny Pickett is the classic quarterback that you can win with, but not necessarily because of. … The beauty of [Stefanski’s] system is its progression: the quarterback always has a clear read, moving from simple, short throws to deeper, more challenging passes, depending on how the defense reacts.

 

The philosophy ties into a quarterback you can “win with” but not necessarily “because of.” Stefanski wants to rely on a strong run game with play action, especially on early downs. The Browns’ play caller wants to get into 12 and 13 personnel and dictate what defensive personnel is in the game.

Browns QB Kenny Pickett on 3rd Team in 4 Years

GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made Pickett a first-round pick in 2022 after he threw for north of 4,300 yards and 42 TDs during his final collegiate season.

Pittsburgh moved on from Pickett after a couple of years, sending him across the state to the Philadelphia Eagles. He spent last season as a backup quarterback there before Philly dealt him to Cleveland for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft selection.

Pickett is entering the final year of his $14 million rookie contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in March 2026. He is 15-10 as a starter across 30 appearances in his NFL career and has amassed 4,765 passing yards, 15 TDs and 14 INTs.

Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco Both Have Skill Set to Succeed in Cleveland

Reisland added more insight into Pickett’s particular strengths and how those interconnect with Stefanski’s scheme.

For me, Stefanski’s pass schemes are more about play design against specific defenses as compared to designing plays for specific players. Simply put, Stefanski wants his quarterbacks to process what the defense is doing and take what is open, regardless of who the receiver may be.

Pickett is big and athletic, he can throw from different launch points, he is smart and can find advantageous matchups, and he has enough arm strength to stretch the field both horizontally and vertically. Stefanski sees a guy who can thrive in his scheme.

While Stefanski may see the potential in Pickett to play well in his offense, he knows for a fact Flacco can do so.

Flacco went 4-1 down the stretch in 2023 and led Cleveland to the playoffs. His success also helped Stefanski win his second Coach of the Year award in four seasons.

The Browns signed Flacco to a one-year deal after trading for Pickett on the final year of his contract, then drafted Gabriel late in Round 3 after passing on Sanders multiple times. That was probably the entirety of the team’s plan at QB, which may well have included keeping both veterans for full 2025 campaign.

However, Sanders’ precipitous fall and Cleveland’s audible call to trade up and select him in the early portion of Round 5 added a wildcard to the mix that could result in either Flacco or Pickett hitting the trade block by the end of August.