With four legitimate options for the QB1 job, head coach Kevin Stefanski has a critical decision to make regarding the next quarterback of the Cleveland Browns. So far, throughout the summer, all four names, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel, have received ample reps, with Stefanski yet to make a decision about the starter role, at least publicly.
However, the rest of the team, seeing them in practice and sharing a locker room with them, is also starting to develop a rapport and their own understanding of the situation. For one star on the roster, Greg Newsome II, the options at Cleveland’s disposal are embarrassingly rich. Speaking to the media, he even compared one of the four with the last great quarterback in Cleveland, Baker Mayfield.
Greg Newsome II Believes the Cleveland Browns Have Baker Mayfield 2.0
Drafted with the first overall pick, Mayfield was seen as the changing of the tide for a Browns franchise that hadn’t scaled the heights of the NFL in decades. Right off the bat, the juice was worth the squeeze, with the superstar quarterback putting together some truly impressive campaigns.
Dragging them back to the playoffs, he cemented himself as a legend in Cleveland for eons to come. However, injuries marred his tenure with the organization, and the Browns decided to part ways with him.
Alas, that was a very poor decision on their part, as after a few years of struggle, Mayfield has found his footing in the league once again and is one of the better quarterbacks across the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But, if Newsome is to be believed, Cleveland’s search for Mayfield’s replacement is coming to an end soon. Speaking on the Cleveland’s Talking Heads podcast, the 2021 first-round pick had some high praise for his team’s offseason addition, Kenny Pickett.
A former first-round pick in his own right, Pickett struggled in his two years with the Pittsburgh Steelers before being shipped to be a backup for the Philadelphia Eagles last year in their run to the Super Bowl.
🚨 #Browns CB @gnewsii on @CLETalkingHeads on QB Kenny Pickett
🏈”He’s always been one of my favorite guys to compete against. He’s a guy that reminds me of that tenacity that Baker (Mayfield) had.”
On his mobility: “It’s a nightmare.”
🔊 Listen: https://t.co/UgJFum1p55 pic.twitter.com/ZXaVZN3LCW
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) July 25, 2025
However, the former All-Rookie team member believes Pickett has a wealth of untapped potential at his disposal. “He’s always been one of my favorite guys to compete against. He’s a guy that reminds me of that tenacity that Baker had.”
Sharing a division with Pickett for two seasons, Newsome got to cover a lot against him as the primary opposing cornerback. So his word is definitely going to carry some weight throughout the franchise. Newsome then had some high praise for Pickett’s attitude in particular.
“Trying to go at you, he’s gonna talk some trash with you, and just an ultimate competitor. He does whatever the offense needs from him to win.” For the Browns, that is the mentality they might want to use going forward.
With Stefanski undecided on who their quarterback is going to be, it leaves the door open for Pickett to potentially outperform the competition through training camp and preseason and attempt a career renaissance ala Sam Darnold with the Minnesota Vikings.
He already has some fans in the locker room. Now, it’s about converting the rest of the fanbase and the coaches who are in his corner.
