Browns Near Call on QB1, as Competition Narrows to 2 Candidates: Report

The Cleveland Browns face a bear of a schedule to open the season, which means the franchise will make a decision on its starting quarterback quickly after training camp begins later this month.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated said as much on Monday, suggesting that a call on the QB1 job is fast-approaching and naming the two favorites as of mid-July.

“Time is short. Reps in camp will be valuable. Bottom line: It wouldn’t be fair to the rest of the team to drag things out,” Breer wrote on July 14. “To that end, you’ll probably be able to see where things stand early on. [Joe] Flacco will be in the running. [Kenny] Pickett almost certainly will be, too.”

Based on Breer’s analysis, Dillon Gabriel has at least a shot to win the gig, while Shedeur Sanders is the clear fourth-place candidate heading into camp. Then there is the injured Deshaun Watson who still has two years remaining on his $230 million contract and an uncertain timetable on a return from his twice-torn Achilles tendon.

“Gabriel showed an ability to process and great feel for the position, and looked improved in how fast he was playing early on — plus adds some athletic ability. How often his size shows up in 11-on-11 will be key,” Breer continued. “And Sanders was behind the pack to start, but worked to catch up and will have to continue earning his reps.”

Browns Likely to Start Veteran Quarterback Week 1

GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Cleveland has five consecutive playoff teams on the slate following a matchup with the juggernaut Cincinnati Bengals offense in Week 1, so starting a rookie who isn’t 100% ready behind an offensive line that has legitimate questions at both tackle spots reads like a recipe for complete and utter disaster.

Given that a 1-5 or 0-6 start will bode quite ill for the future employment of head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry in Cleveland, it’s a safe bet they will land on one of the two veterans on the roster. Both Flacco and Pickett have winning records in the NFL, with 191 regular-season starts (105-86) and 25 starts (15-10) on their respective resumés.

Flacco has already proven himself in Stefanski’s system after he started five games for the Browns in 2023, going 4-1 down the stretch and leading the team to the playoffs. Pickett has similar size and arm strength to Flacco, both solid indicators that he could have success in Stefanski’s scheme as well.

Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett Likely Trade Candidate Ahead of Mid-Season Deadline

GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco.

Whomever doesn’t win the starting job between Flacco and Pickett likely heads to the trade block, though perhaps not immediately.

Should Flacco win the job and struggle through three or four starts, the Browns may want to keep Pickett on the roster to give him a go before the season is lost. Regardless of how things play out, though, either Pickett or Flacco makes sense as a trade chip ahead of the mid-season deadline. Carrying five quarterbacks, even with one on an injury designation for potentially the entire campaign, simply isn’t a good use of roster spots or financial resources.

Not to mention, Cleveland may be able to get a reasonable draft asset from a desperate team in November by parting with a quarterback who can start a few games in a pinch.

Gabriel and/or Sanders are more likely to get their shots down the line, as the Browns must decide how to proceed in 2026 with both their own first-round pick and that of the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ at their disposal in next April’s draft.