Report: Browns veterans have a preferred starting quarterback

   

Kenny Pickett 'Favorite' To Win Cleveland Browns' Starting Job Over Dillon  Gabriel

The Cleveland Browns have a wide-open quarterback battle, with four different players possessing a realistic shot of starting the season under center. Veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett have the experience, while third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and the famous Shedeur Sanders offer the promise of the unknown. While anybody could win the job, veterans on the team reportedly want Flacco to win the job, according to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.

This report shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as Flacco offers the best combination of upside and stability for this organization. While the 40-year-old is well past his physical prime, he can still execute within a scheme, and memories of his incredible run with the team at the end of the 2023 season should still be fresh on everyone’s mind.

While the team is nowhere close to naming a starting quarterback, Flacco is the favorite to win the job. Pickett did nothing to inspire confidence during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Gabriel and Sanders are too inexperienced to line up under center in Week 1.

Joe Flacco might be the favorite to start in Week 1, but he probably won’t start all 17 games for the Browns. At the end of the day, this team has arguably the worst quarterback situation in the NFL, and nobody should be surprised if Gabriel, Sanders and Pickett all earn opportunities to play in the upcoming season. With a playoff push unlikely, this season could be all about developing one of Gabriel or Sanders into a franchise quarterback.