The Cleveland Browns turned heads during the 2024 NFL Draft when they selected not one, but two quarterbacks within three rounds of each other. The decision sparked debate then, and now one former team executive is calling the strategy a mistake that’s doomed to fail both prospects and the franchise.
Why Did the Browns Draft Two Rookie Quarterbacks in One Season?
Developing a quarterback in the NFL is no easy task. The position comes with countless nuances and is one of the most complex to understand, making the transition from college to the NFL a tough challenge requiring full attention.
Despite these realities, Cleveland decided to take a gamble and draft two rookie quarterbacks this season. Dillon Gabriel was the first quarterback selected by the team, in the third round, and Shedeur Sanders, in one of the most surprising moves of the latest draft, was picked in the fifth round even after the team had already taken a quarterback.
The franchise has faced heavy criticism, particularly for how it handled the rookie quarterbacks. Michael Lombardi, who served as the team’s general manager in 2013, criticized the Browns’ decision to try to develop two young quarterbacks simultaneously, arguing that it is impossible to give both players the attention they need.
How Are Practice Reps Being Divided in Cleveland’s Four-Way Battle?
“There’s only so many reps every day of practice, and how you divide those reps is most critical in terms of how you’re building your team, because if you’re given 20 reps a day to a guy who’s not gonna ever play for you, you’re wasting 20 reps,” Lombardi said.
“It’s impossible, impossible to develop two young quarterbacks at the same time. It’s not college.”
The Browns released their first official depth chart for the quarterback competition, listing Joe Flacco in the lead, followed by Kenny Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders. As expected, the two veteran quarterbacks brought in during the offseason are ahead of the mid-round rookies.
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Lombardi raised a key point, arguing that if the Browns planned to compete right away this season, it would have made more sense to handle the veteran duo more pragmatically and draft only one rookie quarterback, developing him slowly instead of putting Sanders in a situation where he’s mainly practicing with the third team and getting very limited reps with the starters.
What Does Tyler Huntley’s Signing Mean for Sanders and Gabriel?
The situation became even more complicated when Cleveland added a fifth quarterback to the mix. After the team announced the signing of a fifth quarterback, Tyler Huntley, the NFL world reacted strongly to the few opportunities Sanders had received.
Some even called for the Browns to trade him to another team that would give him a real shot, a clear sign of frustration with Cleveland’s quarterback management.
The Browns’ rookie quarterbacks have been criticized harshly, especially regarding their readiness for the NFL level. If those concerns prove true, this could be another misstep by the Browns in handling the most important position on the field, potentially leading to another reset in the next offseason.
With five quarterbacks now competing for roster spots, both rookies face an uphill battle for meaningful development time.
The mathematics alone make Lombardi’s point clear: dividing practice reps among this many players means less individual attention for each prospect, potentially stunting the growth Cleveland hoped to accelerate by selecting two young quarterbacks in one draft.
