No other team faces a quarterback situation quite like the Cleveland Browns as they head into the 2025 season.
The franchise brought in four quarterbacks to compete for the starting job, and the battle is shaping up to be one of the most heated of the preseason.
The competition between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders has generated mixed reactions from analysts regarding who the favorite is to win the job. However, Browns wide receiver Diontae Johnson shared his opinion and hinted at who he believes should be the starter this season.
Diontae Johnson Weighs In on Browns QB1 Battle Ahead of 2025 Season
Across the league, no quarterback situation is more unusual than the one in Cleveland, a direct result of the bold gamble the Browns took when they traded for Deshaun Watson in 2022.
That move turned into a disaster, forcing the franchise to completely reshape its approach and leading to the decision to bring in as much competition as possible.
Flacco, entering his 18th season, is the most experienced. Pickett offers a middle ground between experience and youth, while rookies Gabriel and Sanders still seem to have a long road ahead before being ready to take over as starters. And while most players tend to avoid commenting on the situation, wide receiver Johnson, who recently joined the team, openly backed Pickett to win the job.
“I think they’re going to roll with Kenny for right now,” Johnson said on the “Sports and Suits podcast.”
His prediction might not sit well with some fans, but it’s reasonable from both a personal and team standpoint. The Browns traded a 2025 fifth-round pick and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire Pickett, and he’s still on his rookie contract.
It would make sense for Cleveland to give Pickett a legitimate shot this season.
Despite the relatively low cost, the team still gave up draft capital to acquire him. From Johnson’s perspective, his support comes from familiarity. The two played together with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2022 to 2023, which was the last time Johnson had stability before bouncing around three different teams last year.
Johnson struggled to find his footing with the Carolina Panthers and was soon traded to the Baltimore Ravens. He couldn’t secure a spot there either and was released in under two months. After that, he signed with the Houston Texans but appeared in only one game.
The QB1 position remains open and is expected to be decided during training camp and preseason games. Reports indicate Flacco is slightly ahead at the moment, followed closely by Pickett, while the two rookies seem further behind in the race.