The Cleveland Browns walk into training camp with the most intriguing quarterback battle in the NFL. Four names compete for one job, and nobody knows who’ll win it.
It’s the kind of wide-open competition that has fans refreshing Twitter every hour and analysts throwing around predictions like confetti. But while everyone else speculates, head coach Kevin Stefanski holds the answers close to his chest.
What Does Kevin Stefanski Plan to Do at Quarterback?
Stefanski appeared before the media and explained how he gives each quarterback a chance to define his role.
“I think the big thing for me is putting our guys in position where we can evaluate them,” Stefanski said. “I think they did a great job in the spring, all four of those guys. We’ll continue to put them in some situations. But ultimately, we’d love to make a decision sooner than later.”
Kevin Stefanski on the QB competition pic.twitter.com/F3dHkQhJym
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 23, 2025
Cleveland faces this unique situation because most teams enter the 2025 season with their starter already locked in. The Browns’ big-money quarterback, Deshaun Watson, is likely out for all of 2025 with a torn Achilles, leaving the position completely up for grabs.
Who’s Leading the Four-Way Competition?
Kenny Pickett has reportedly been taking all the first-team reps in 11-on-11 drills, putting him at the front of the pack. Behind him, Dillon Gabriel runs with the second team while Shedeur Sanders works with the third unit.
Joe Flacco hasn’t worked into the 11-on-11 rotation yet, but he’s expected to get his shot as training camp progresses. The veteran knows this system well after his memorable 2023 run.
This competition exists because Cleveland has struggled even when Watson was healthy. After signing a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract in 2022, Watson appeared in just 19 games across three seasons. The Browns went 9-10 in his starts, and his quarterback rating of 80.8 fell 18 points below his career average of 98.8.
Meanwhile, Flacco saved Cleveland’s 2023 season, leading them to the playoffs and earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. Pickett flamed out as Pittsburgh’s first-round pick before getting shipped to Philadelphia, then traded to Cleveland. Gabriel was drafted in the third round ahead of Sanders, who was taken in the fifth round after suffering one of the most dramatic falls in the draft in recent memory.
Looking ahead, Cleveland holds two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft while working through this quarterback puzzle. The Browns’ win total is projected to be 5.6, which would put them near the top of the draft and in position to select a top quarterback prospect.
