The Cleveland Browns are in a rare situation for an NFL team — an open quarterback competition involving four players — heading into 2025. The franchise added veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett during the offseason, then selected rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the draft, creating one of the most unusual QB rooms in the league.
While Sanders hasn’t emerged as the immediate favorite to start, he’s certainly generating the most excitement among both fans and the media. His offseason narrative was one of the most talked-about stories in the NFL. New OC Tommy Rees spoke about Sanders’ development, highlighting how he is already making a case for himself in the competition.
Could Shedeur Sanders Be the Browns’ 2025 Starter?
Projected by many as a frontrunner for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Cleveland faces a tough decision in the coming months: naming its starting quarterback for the season. That choice will likely lead to one of the four QBs being cut, traded, or poached via the practice squad.
While veterans Flacco and Pickett hold the edge in experience, especially Flacco, who has already played for the Browns, rookies Gabriel and Sanders bring more intrigue due to their youth and untapped potential.
However, keeping both young quarterbacks on the roster won’t be easy, and early reports are mixed on who’s been more impressive in offseason workouts.
When asked specifically about Sanders’ performance in practice, offensive coordinator Rees emphasized the steady progress among all quarterbacks and praised Sanders for his commitment and professional approach.
OC Tommy Rees on Shedeur Sanders: “He’s worked his tail off.” pic.twitter.com/StEdq1S6t3
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) June 4, 2025
“He’s worked his tail off, he’s really put in a lot of work as all those guys are, but you could tell on the mental side of the game and learning the system and calling it and having that rhythm to it,” Rees said.
“He’s put a lot of work and time and effort into that, and then when you do that, the game starts to slow down and you can focus on finding conclusions. He’s done a nice job on that as camp’s progressed.”
Sanders entered the draft process with a reputation for arrogance and overconfidence—factors that many believe contributed to his surprising slide to the fifth round. However, his work ethic has never been in question.
He’s consistently been viewed as a smart and diligent prospect, someone who offsets his physical limitations through deep study and a strong understanding of the game.
Getting more involved in Cleveland’s culture — including taking part in team events like the “Rooks to Cooks” program — the quarterback is clearly working to distance himself from the negative perceptions surrounding his personality. And at least for the coaching staff, that hasn’t been an issue since work began.
As for the ongoing quarterback competition, Rees reiterated that all four players are capable of taking over as the starter and that the battle will be decided during the preseason.
OC Rees on Browns’ QB competition between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders:
“You can see them all winning the job. In terms of the competition, we’re so early in the process, we’re so early in evaluating it. But we have a good group of guys that are…
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) June 4, 2025
“You can see them all winning the job,” Rees said. “In terms of the competition, we’re so early in the process, we’re so early in evaluating it. But we have a good group of guys that are continuing to push one another. By the time September rolls around, we’ll be ready to go.”
KEEP READING: NFL Insider Reveals Shedeur Sanders Has Fans in the Browns Building Who ‘100% Believe He Can Be the Starter’
The Browns kick off their preseason on August 8 against the Carolina Panthers, and it could be the first time we see Sanders in action wearing the team’s uniform, along with Gabriel and possibly one of the two veterans.
And if the reports from coaches and insiders are accurate, we’re in for a highly competitive and entertaining quarterback battle.