Heading into training camp, no team has more uncertainty surrounding its starting quarterback situation than the Cleveland Browns. There’s an open competition between four quarterbacks that will be decided during training camp and the NFL preseason.
Former Browns quarterback and 1980 NFL MVP Brian Sipe recently offered his take on the competition. While he didn’t get a chance to start for Cleveland for two years after getting drafted, Sipe believes the league has changed and rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel will get opportunities to start earlier than he did.
What Did Brian Sipe Predict for Cleveland’s Week 1 Starter?
Cleveland needed a complete offensive overhaul after fielding one of the worst units in the NFL during the 2024 season. The Browns finished 28th in total offense, averaging just 300.8 yards per game.
The front office revamped the quarterback room by trading for Kenny Pickett, signing Joe Flacco, and selecting Gabriel and Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft. Deshaun Watson remains on the roster but won’t play in 2025 after tearing his Achilles twice during the 2024 season. Watson appeared in just seven games for the Browns before the injuries ended his campaign.
Sanders has emerged as an early favorite to start for the Browns after outperforming the other quarterbacks during minicamp last month. However, Sipe predicted that either Flacco or Pickett would get the first opportunity, but also doesn’t rule out the possibility of a rookie being under center in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
:fire: Shedeur QB1. A Perfect Fit for the Browns. @danorlovsky7 Explains
“If this offense is going to what it was a couple of years ago, he is perfect for it. He has to force the organization to play him because he is so impressive”
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— JaKi :us: (@JaKiTruth) June 9, 2025
“When I came in, it was just kind of understood that rookies didn’t play the quarterback position,” he told May Kay Cobot of Cleveland.com. “In hindsight, I think it’s been that’s been proven wrong. But I think the game is being coached differently than when I played. I had no contact with the coaches until I went to training camp, so there was no way a rookie could start.”
Only No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward is guaranteed to start in Week 1 among the rookies, though a few others, including Tyler Shough of the New Orleans Saints, remain in contention. Sanders and Gabriel also have a decent chance, but the pair received the fewest first-team reps during offseason practices, suggesting the odds slightly favor the veterans.
How Do the Veteran Quarterbacks Stack Up Against the Rookies?
Pickett was traded to Cleveland after spending 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’ll receive a Super Bowl 59 ring after the Eagles’ championship run, but Pickett started just one game while appearing in five total. He threw for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception during the regular season. The 26-year-old has started 25 games over three NFL seasons, compiling a 15-10 record.
Flacco rejoins the Browns after spending 2024 with the Indianapolis Colts. The 17-year veteran became a fan favorite after leading Cleveland to the playoffs in 2023. During his stint with the Browns in 2023, Flacco threw for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while going 4-1 as a starter. According to most sportsbooks, he currently has the highest odds of starting in Week 1.
Gabriel transferred from Oklahoma to Oregon for his final college season, throwing for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2024. Sanders completed his final season in Colorado with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns during the 2024 season.
Could the Browns rotate all four quarterbacks throughout the 2025 season to evaluate their options for the future? It’s worth noting that Cleveland used four different starting quarterbacks during the 2024 season. The organization can address the position again in the 2026 NFL Draft if no current candidates prove effective.
Flacco is nearing retirement at 40 years old and represents a short-term solution rather than a long-term answer.
