As the Cleveland Browns prepare for the upcoming NFL season, a contentious quarterback competition rages on. The HQ team features a great mix of seasoned veterans and new ambitious voices. Veteran Joe Flacco, second-year player Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are all battling tooth and nail for the job. With joint practices scheduled against the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles, along with three preseason games, the Browns aim to solidify their quarterback roster.
In Joe’s case, this is his second tour of duty in Cleveland. At 40 years old, he’s preparing for his 18th NFL season. Flacco is the unquestioned elder statesman of the QB room. His experience will be invaluable as he helps to lead a wave of younger players looking to leave their stamp on the league. Flacco for having first brought the Browns out of the dark ages and into playoff contention. In 2023, that Comeback Player of the Year award went to him! He threw eight interceptions in five regular-season starts two years ago. Even though that’s the case, he’s able to still be a very strong locker room presence.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has cautioned people against gleaming too much from practice results. He explained that although Flacco took less reps in practices open to the media, this was on purpose. The Browns’ new front office has been upfront about their plan to thoroughly evaluate every quarterback during the duration of training camp.
The Young Contenders
Dillon Gabriel has made his case as a major-league contender, thanks to getting a ton of first-team reps throughout the offseason workout program. The 5-foot-11, left-handed sophomore QB has been a dynamo. They’re worried about his height, but his skills have opened the coaching staff’s eyes to the possibilities.
Ultimately, Stefanski says he has faith in Gabriel, and that there’s more than one way to find success at this level. He noted, “There’s quarterbacks, different shapes and sizes. You have to be able to move in the pocket. You have to feel the pocket, you have to find throwing lanes, you have to change arm angles.” Gabriel’s well-rounded game aligns well with Stefanski’s offensive philosophy.
The Browns took Shedeur Sanders with the 144th pick, the fifth round. He has taken zero snaps with the first-team offense in media-accessible practices. Yet despite this less-than-ideal start, he is still very much a key quarterback to the team’s future plans.
Assessing Kenny Pickett
Kenny Pickett has been the buzz of practice, splitting first-team reps with Gabriel. The Browns sent a fifth-round pick and rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to land Pickett in a deal with the Eagles last March. His on-field performance to date suggests he can be a dependable, if not more dynamic option, for Cleveland.
Andrew Berry, the Browns’ general manager, spoke highly of Pickett’s capabilities. “We feel like he’s a good decision-maker. He does a really good job of protecting the ball. He’s very mobile, and we think that his relative strengths are something that fit well with the offense that we’re putting into place for this upcoming year.”
Gabriel and Pickett are proving their talents during these joint practices. It’s obvious that their play will be key in determining who wins the job as the starting QB.
Looking Ahead
The upcoming joint practices with both the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles will serve as critical evaluations for all quarterbacks involved in the competition. These are sessions that will allow each individual to highlight their skills. They will provide coaches an opportunity to measure players’ ability to process and perform in real time on the fly.
With each passing preseason game, each quarterback will have more opportunities to capture the job. The Browns are happy about the talent and depth in their quarterback room. This year, they’re looking forward to all kinds of artistic versatility as they prepare for an imaginative season to come!
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