The Cleveland Browns’ 2025 schedule was released last night, and we now know the order in which they’ll face their previously announced opponents.
With the schedule now set, one key consideration is how the Browns will manage the quarterback position. Given recent history, it’s likely that Cleveland will have multiple starters under center this season—they’ve done so each of the last two years, and that was without two rookie quarterbacks on the roster to evaluate.
After selecting Dillon Gabriel in the third round of the draft, the Browns couldn’t pass on the value of Shedeur Sanders when he was still available in the fifth round. Sanders is a player who could start for Cleveland in 2025—if he makes the team. So far, he’s off to a good start, with rookie camp reportedly going well.
When will Shedeur Sanders make his first career start for the Cleveland Browns?
A logical assumption would be to circle the Week 9 bye as a potential turning point for a quarterback change. It’s a natural time for reflection and transition, but it might not be the first opportunity the Browns consider.
Cleveland opens the season against the Cincinnati Bengals. In a perfect world, a rookie could earn the starting job out of training camp, but realistically, I expect Joe Flacco to start Week 1. The Browns will likely ride with him until performance—or lack thereof—forces a change. By “wheels falling off,” I mean a string of losses and a rise in turnovers.
The opening stretch of the season is brutal: Bengals, Ravens, and then three consecutive games against NFC North opponents. That five-game gauntlet ends in London against the Minnesota Vikings. It’s the toughest stretch on the Browns’ schedule. It’s hard to imagine the team throwing a rookie into his first start overseas. When they return home, they’ll face the always-tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense.
Week 7, however, stands out. The Browns host the Miami Dolphins—a manageable matchup at home and a potentially ideal scenario to debut Sanders if he’s made the team and is ready. Starting him in Week 7 would give him two games before the Week 9 bye, offering a natural evaluation point after some real in-game experience.
Week 8 is a winnable road game against the New England Patriots. If Sanders starts in Week 7, this gives him a shot to build momentum heading into the bye. These two weeks could be key for a rookie making his mark.
Of course, this assumes Sanders has either outperformed Gabriel or the team simply sees more upside with him. Either way, I don’t see a better spot on the schedule for a rookie quarterback like Sanders to step in than Week 7 against Miami.
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