Browns Rookie QB Predicted to End Up As Starter in 2025

The Cleveland Browns went from one quarterback issue in 2024 to a totally different quarterback situation in 2025.

After the second Achilles injury to Deshaun Watson in three months back in January, his 2025 season is in jeopardy. The Browns struggled last season after he went down in October with a mix of Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe.

Those three are all gone now, and the Browns have filled the QB room with veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. While Flacco is the presumed starter come Week 1, he most likely won't finish the season under center. And ESPN's Jordan Reid predicts it's Gabriel who will supplant him as the starter because of the way he the former Oregon QB fits in the Cleveland offense.

"Kevin Stefanski's offense is at its best when it relies on its West Coast roots. That means having a passer who plays on time and gets the ball out quickly and efficiently," Reid said. "That's Gabriel, who depends on anticipation and timing with his throws. He's undersized (6-foot, 200 pounds) and won't overwhelm with his physical tools, but his passing detail led to 18,722 yards over his college career, the second most in FBS history. His quick decision-making and accuracy on short-to-intermediate passes project well at the next level."

But when and how could Gabriel see the field? ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi sees a scenario where Gabriel could beat Sanders to the starting job if the offense sputters.

"While Shedeur Sanders grabbed headlines, the Browns coveted Gabriel in the draft. Cleveland has veteran QBs (Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett), but Gabriel has plenty of experience himself, with 63 college starts," Oyefusi wrote. "Even if he doesn't win the starting job, don't be surprised if Gabriel gets a look this season if the offense struggles, if only to gauge his readiness before a 2026 draft that's deeper at quarterback. The Browns have two first-round picks."

The Browns have what feels like a better situation under center entering 2025, but it's still not perfect. In fact, by having "too many QBs,'' they may establish in the end that they don't have enough QBs who are good enough.