The Cleveland Browns are entering the 2025 NFL season with a rare and critical opportunity to reshape their future at the quarterback position.
After acquiring an additional first-round pick in the 2026 draft via a trade with Jacksonville, the franchise now holds valuable draft capital that could be used to secure a generational talent, if they don’t already have one on the roster. That is why this season must be treated as a proving ground for rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Anything less would signal a lack of vision from the coaching staff and front office.
Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, while serviceable, are known quantities. Flacco is a 40-year-old veteran whose best years are behind him. Pickett, despite being a former first-rounder, has struggled to establish himself as a consistent starter. Neither player represents the future of the franchise. They are bridge quarterbacks, not permanent solutions. The Browns need to stop walking in circles and start building toward something permanent.
Shedeur Sanders, drafted in the fifth round, arrives with a chip on his shoulder and a pedigree that demands attention. His college career at Colorado was electric. He broke Colorado’s single-season all-time passing record in 2024. Shedeur finished his career there with 7,364 passing yards, 64 touchdowns, and a 71.8 percent completion rate. Despite his draft slide, Sanders has shown flashes of NFL-level touch and accuracy in minicamp. Analysts such as ESPN’s Harry Douglas believe he could be ready to start by Week 7, and insiders report that he is already impressing coaches with his poise and work ethic.
Dillon Gabriel, selected in the third round, is no slouch either. He is the most experienced quarterback in FBS history, having started 63 games across three programs. His final season at Oregon was a masterclass in efficiency and leadership, earning him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors. Gabriel has reportedly picked up the Browns playbook faster than expected and has impressed coaches with his processing speed and decision-making. While some scouts question his size, others see a cerebral quarterback with the tools to thrive in Kevin Stefanski’s system.
The quarterback room in Cleveland is crowded, but it is also unpredictable. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are fighting for relevance, while Sanders and Gabriel are fighting for the future. Reports suggest that Cleveland will not risk losing either rookie to waivers, meaning one of the veterans could be traded before the season begins. If the coaching staff is serious about long-term success, they must prioritize reps for Sanders and Gabriel, not just during preseason but throughout the regular season.
This is not only about player development. It is about organizational accountability. The Browns have cycled through more than 30 starting quarterbacks since 1999. They have taken swings, missed, and doubled down on mediocrity. With two promising rookies and two first-round picks in 2026, the team finally has the leverage to break that cycle. However, that leverage means nothing if they do not use this season to evaluate what they have.
If Sanders and Gabriel do not receive meaningful starts, it sends a message that the coaching staff is more concerned with short-term optics than long-term growth. It risks upsetting the fanbase, undermining locker room trust, and wasting a season that could be pivotal in the franchise’s trajectory. Stefanski and his staff must be bold. They must be decisive. And they must be willing to bet on the unknown, because the known has not gotten them anywhere.