As NFL minicamps roll on, one of the league’s most intriguing storylines is the Cleveland Browns’ crowded quarterback competition.
The four-way battle between Shedeur Sanders, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel remains wide open. Early minicamp performances have caught the attention of former Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins, who noted that one unexpected rookie is turning heads. But will it be enough to secure the Week 1 start?
Could Shedeur Sanders Earn the Starting Role With the Browns?
Sanders was the talk of the 2025 NFL Draft after his stunning fall to the fifth round left fans across the league in disbelief. Selected 144th overall, Sanders has entered minicamp with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. He’s working tirelessly to showcase the elite potential he sees in himself—and he’s quickly turning heads in the process.
Hawkins, the former Browns receiver who spent three years in Cleveland, appeared on ESPN’s “Get Up” Show. He expressed his thoughts on what he has seen from Sanders thus far and had some big words for the rookie from Colorado.
Shedeur Sanders has a real chance to be the starter,” Hawkins said.
A surprising statement—especially about a rookie quarterback taken in the fifth round. But Hawkins didn’t back down. Instead, he doubled down on the praise, offering even more credit to Sanders’ early performance.
“You know what you get in Joe Flacco. You hope that Kenny Pickett grabs the reins, I don’t think Kenny Pickett has done that thus far. So it comes down to Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.” Hawkins said, explaining why the two rookies the Browns drafted this offseason could be the more interesting options for the starting role.
“Shedeur is not going to wow you when you see him throw it or his athletic ability. When the pads get on and you watch him go through his process, he looks like a vet, compared to what you typically see out of a rookie.” Hawkins said, offering up high praise for Sanders based on what the late-round pick has shown early on.
“So I suspect that as mini camps go on, once you get into training camp, you’re going to start to see real questions of: Is Shedeur Sanders the best option at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns?” Hawkins added.
Teams and media doubted Sanders long before the NFL Draft—but Hawkins made it clear he believes in the Browns’ rookie quarterback.
When Cleveland selected Sanders in the fifth round, few expected him to be a serious contender for the 2025 starting job. But after an impressive start to minicamp, Hawkins thinks that conversation is now very real. Still, the question remains: does it make sense to name Sanders the Week 1 starter in Cleveland?
Hawkins: Sanders Should Be Browns’ Starting Quarterback
Hawkins has made it clear he prefers Shedeur Sanders over the Browns’ other quarterback options—but there’s still plenty of time before any decisions are made.
It’s too early to name a starter for the 2025 season. With veteran Joe Flacco and former first-rounder Kenny Pickett on the roster, Sanders has experienced mentors around him as he works to develop into a potential QB1.
The Browns also have no reason to rush the progress of Sanders—or fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel—when they have two quarterbacks with proven NFL experience.
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Cleveland acquired Pickett from the Eagles with the intent of giving him a legitimate shot at winning the job. He’s already expressed his motivation to make the most of this second chance, and from a team perspective, starting Pickett could offer valuable breathing room for the younger quarterbacks to develop behind the scenes—without being thrown into the spotlight too soon.
Still, the four-way quarterback battle has played out better than expected, especially with Sanders continuing to impress early in minicamps. Hawkins’ endorsement isn’t without merit—but Sanders will need to keep building momentum through the preseason.
If he does, there’s a real possibility that Hawkins ends up being right. Could the Browns have found the steal of the draft—and their future franchise quarterback—at pick No. 144?
