Four quarterbacks, zero guarantee. That’s the reality facing the Cleveland Browns as they enter the 2025 season with the most uncertain quarterback room in the NFL. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett bring starting experience, while rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel represent the future — but when that future arrives remains anyone’s guess.
How Will Cleveland Handle Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in Year One?
Although Sanders and Gabriel have garnered early attention in Cleveland’s spring workouts, their year-one roles remain in flux. According to Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland, both rookies should be viewed as long-term investments rather than immediate contributors.
“You have to look at it as a four-year plan, not a four-week plan,” Grossi stated, noting that Sanders could spend much of the 2025 season inactive, while Gabriel has a better chance of seeing playing time early on.
“I don’t think they feel the urgency to rush either of those guys. They want to develop them over time. I could see [Sanders] spending a lot of this season inactive on Sundays,” he added.
What are the Browns plan for Shedeur Sanders in training camp? @TonyGrossi shares his thoughts… pic.twitter.com/nxEeW2yArb
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 22, 2025
Cleveland’s quarterback succession plan may be years from resolution, but the early signs suggest Gabriel holds a slight edge over Sanders entering training camp. With the team’s focus on the bigger picture, both players will be given time to develop without the pressure to perform immediately.
What Happens if the Veterans Struggle Early?
However, should Flacco and Pickett falter early in the season, the Browns’ patient plan for Gabriel and Sanders could be jeopardized. Extended periods of poor quarterback performance would likely accelerate the timeline, pushing the rookies into action sooner than expected.
Flacco, entering his 18th NFL season, remains one of the league’s most experienced passers. He has a Super Bowl MVP on his resume and over 180 career starts. However, he will turn 41 in January and has not started double-digit games since the 2017 season.
Meanwhile, Pickett enters his third NFL locker room since 2023. The 2022 first-round draft pick has a career touchdown-to-interception ratio of 15-14, falling short of the heroics he displayed during his senior season at the University of Pittsburgh when he was named a first-team All-American and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Why Does the 2026 Draft Timeline Matter?
Currently, the Browns are projected to hold two top-ten selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. This means they will need to assess whether Sanders or Gabriel can realistically be part of their long-term plans before committing another premium pick to a quarterback.
Without meaningful evaluations during the regular season, Cleveland risks entering next year’s draft with unresolved questions and potentially redundant assets. The clock is already ticking on a decision that could shape the franchise for the next decade.
