Nothing about the Cleveland Browns’ 2024 season went the way they expected. They hoped that Deshaun Watson would finally live up to their expectations. However, Watson suffered another season-ending injury, and the Browns ultimately started four different quarterbacks throughout the season, finishing 3-14.
That’s why everyone believed the Browns would go after a difference-maker with the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead of taking Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter, the Browns traded that pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The trade has been considered a good value so far, given the Browns’ significant needs.
However, it left many scratching their heads, wondering what Cleveland would do about a quarterback for 2025. Many draft experts had the Browns linked to Shedeur Sanders. While there was a lot of debate over where he should be drafted, many thought the Browns would grab him early. Instead, they waited and stole him in the fifth round after already drafting Dillion Gabriel in the third round. But the question is still, who is going to start?
Cleveland Browns’ QB Circus Might Have a Star in Shedeur Sanders
The Browns now have an embarrassment of riches in their quarterback room. That group includes not only Watson, Sanders, and Gabriel but also Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco.
It is giving analysts plenty to talk about, including former Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl safety Ryan Clark, who is now an analyst for ESPN. On a recent episode of “Get Up,” Clark expressed his confidence in Sanders.
“I believe he will start at some point next season. I believe Kenny Pickett will be the front-runner. We have to remember he was the 20th overall pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers a few years ago. But everything you’re hearing out of Cleveland is how impressive Shedeur Sanders is. This is a guy we talked about as a possible first-rounder, and I think he’s showing that talent there, and the Cleveland Browns are desperate for a franchise guy,” Clark said on ESPN.
Many experts believe that Pickett will be the Browns’ starter in Week 1, with Flacco serving as the backup. That would leave Sanders and Gabriel to battle it out for the third-string spot.
🔥 Shedeur Sanders. Will be Browns Starting QB. RC Explains
“I believe he will start at some point. Everything you are hearing out of Cleveland is how impressive Shedeur is. The Browns are desperate for a franchise guy”
📽️ @GetUpESPN pic.twitter.com/GpQDDzGPfz
— JaKi 🇺🇸 (@JaKiTruth) May 27, 2025
Numerous potential spanners can be thrown into the quarterback battle, such as Watson’s surprising rehab progress. That is why Adam Schefter called it one of the top battles to watch in the preseason.
Sanders Family Ties and Red Flags: Did Deion Cause Shedeur’s Stock To Drop?
The NFL world was shocked when Sanders dropped to the fifth round. It raised many questions about how everyone could have gotten it so wrong.
While there were always analysts who questioned if Sanders was truly a first-round talent, the lack of quality signal callers had nearly every mock having him picked by at least the second round.
In the wake of the slide, fingers began to be pointed at his famous father, Deion Sanders. During the lead-up to the draft, he had made comments about potentially refusing to allow his son to be drafted by specific teams.
In the NFL, talent trumps everything. If Sanders’ abilities were proven, that would override the potential chaos that comes with the family unit. Unfortunately for him, his father may have done him more harm than good.
Now it is all up to Sanders. He will have a chance to compete for the starting job in Cleveland, and he must do everything in his power to be ready when his number is called.