Cleveland Browns Face Four-Way Quarterback Competition for 2025 Season

The Cleveland Browns are facing a competitive quarterback battle for their 2025 starting role involving rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, as well as veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Sanders, a fifth-round pick, has impressed coaches with his aggressiveness and ability to make plays during minicamps and OTAs, earning praise from ESPN analysts and Browns legend Joe Thomas. Despite this, Thomas and others advise Sanders to remain humble, quiet, and self-critical to improve consistently, suggesting he focus on daily goals and accepting criticism. While some Browns fans and analysts see Sanders as a potential franchise quarterback, it is widely expected that either Flacco or Pickett will start Week 1 due to the team's difficult early schedule and the need to avoid risks with a rookie. The Browns’ quarterback competition is closely watched as the team looks to identify its future leader, with Sanders and Gabriel's progress being central to that evaluation. Overall, the Browns appear to have multiple realistic options but have not yet finalized their starting quarterback decision.