The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback room is about to get interesting. With training camp officially underway on Wednesday, four signal-callers are battling for the starting job, and the competition features a fascinating mix of veteran leadership and rookie potential.
All eyes are on how Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel will handle their first taste of NFL training camp while established quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett bring their experience to the mix.
Highlights and Accuracy Between Quarterbacks in Training Camp
Flacco and Pickett showed exactly why they’re considered the safe options on opening day. Both veterans made the majority of their throws with composed confidence, displaying the poise that comes from years of NFL experience.
The rookies, meanwhile, had more mixed results in their first day of action. Gabriel appeared to be in excellent form during team drills, completing almost all his passes and even finding the end zone for a touchdown.
Sanders, on the other hand, struggled to find his rhythm and completed fewer passes than his teammates, though his effort and composure showed plenty of promise for the days ahead.
Browns training camp day 1 is in the books. Here’s how all 4 QBs performed in team drills today. pic.twitter.com/aEIXzsehT8
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 23, 2025
When asked about the timeline for naming a starting quarterback, head coach Kevin Stefanski made it clear there’s no rush to make a decision. He’s taking a thoughtful, day-by-day approach to evaluating his options.
#Browns QB Shedeur Sanders compilation from the first day of training camp. pic.twitter.com/USp27grHNf
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) July 23, 2025
“I have a plan that’s in pencil, and we have to take in information every single day, take in how guys are handling certain situations, and then adjust from there,” he said. “Ultimately, we’d love to make a decision sooner than later.”
Shedeur with the sideline 🎯 pic.twitter.com/QxIq1DtMsz
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 23, 2025
Stefanski also noted that the rotation they used in the spring will continue to evolve throughout the week. The spring approach had Flacco and Pickett getting the bulk of reps ahead of Gabriel and Sanders, but that could change as camp progresses.
sheesh Shedeur 😳 pic.twitter.com/mMmVXZJ0Y4
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 23, 2025
“We’ll continue to roll guys in there this week. We got four days before an off day, so I’ll take a look at how we do this week and then huddle up … and decide how we want to handle next week.”
Who Has the Early Edge in Cleveland’s Quarterback Battle?
While it’s still early in the competition, each quarterback brings different strengths to the table. Flacco holds a slight advantage due to his steady leadership and familiarity with the offense.
Pickett is also in a strong position thanks to his NFL experience and understanding of professional-level defenses.
However, fans are keeping a close eye on the newcomers. Gabriel’s strong performance on day one shows he could be ready to compete for significant snaps sooner than expected. Despite still finding his footing, Sanders has the talent and composure that could lead to surprises if he can improve his timing and decision-making as camp continues.
Gabriel with the deep TD 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/I8DLJwiZMA
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 23, 2025
As training camp moves forward, the drama surrounding Cleveland’s quarterback competition will only intensify. Will Flacco secure the starting job once again? Can Pickett make a late surge? Or will one of these rookies step up and lead Cleveland into the upcoming season?
Shedeur Sanders throwing at training camp pic.twitter.com/SEOeroMq6G
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 23, 2025
Either way, this story is just getting started, and Browns fans will be watching every throw, every decision, and every practice with intense interest.
