I’m going to start by saying something that shouldn’t be considered controversial: The Cleveland Browns are doing the right thing by easing rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders into the fold. This organization deserves a lot of scrutiny, but in this situation, they are doing the responsible thing by not rushing to play Gabriel or Sanders.
Let’s take a trip back to the summer of 2017. Between the Indians trading for Jay Bruce (that would set up their record setting 22 straight wins from August 24th to September 15th) and the Cavs trading Kyrie Irving for a broken-down Isaiah Thomas and an unprotected first-round pick via the Brooklyn Nets (thanks, Kenny Atkinson for being a great coach and ruining our chances for the No.1 overall pick) the Cleveland Browns had one of the weirder quarterback battles their history. And that includes Head Coach Romeo Crennel using a coin flip to determine who would start Week 1 of the 2007 preseason. The winner was Charlie Frye.
In 2017, the Browns entered training camp with four quarterbacks. Rookie second-round pick Deshone Kizer, 2016 third-round pick Cody Kessler, undrafted free agent Kevin Hogan, and 2012 second-round pick Brock Osweiler. Osweiler, as many remember, was traded to Cleveland along with a second-round pick (which eventually became Nick Chubb) after signing a 4-year $72 million deal in March 2016. The Browns started Osweiler in the first two preseason games, but the reason that led them to wins that preseason was Kizer. Long story short: Osweiler was cut before week one, Kizer starts 15/16 games, and the Browns go 0-16.
Fast forward to today, the Browns are doing the responsible thing. As of August 4th, it appears they are preparing to name 40-year-old Joe Flacco as their Week 1 starter. Neither rookie looks ready to play today, and it’s tough to imagine that changing by September 7th.
Putting a Quarterback on the field before he’s ready is a detriment to his individual development, the team’s success, and the coaching staff’s ability to evaluate fairly. Why waste a season just to “see what they have”? They shouldn’t repeat the same mistake of 2017. The same mistake that resulted in 0-16. And I say that as someone who was campaigning for Deshone Kizer to play with the “#GetWiserDraftKizer” hashtag.
It’s not like we’re talking about a first-round pick, “respectfully,” we are talking about a third- and fifth-round pick. The odds that either one becomes the long-term starter are slim. The Browns also have two first-round picks in 2026, in what many consider a heavy Quarterback class, rich with talent.
This doesn’t mean the rookies shouldn’t play at some point. The Browns have a bye in week 9. The post-bye week timeframe is the ideal time to make a change. Their first eight opponents had a combined record of 150-139, a winning percentage of .519. On the flip side, from week 10 through the end of the season, the combined record is 58-78, a winning percentage of .426.
Yes, things are always fluid in the NFL, but it would behoove the Browns to put one of these young guys in a position to succeed and allow him to play against perceived lesser opponents. That can build confidence. And if he struggles, you can always pivot to the next guy.
Worst-case scenario: both QBs struggle. And if that happens, the Browns are going to be drafting a quarterback with a top-five pick in the draft come April anyway.
I think, collectively, the Browns are doing right by their young quarterbacks, the veterans on this roster, the coaching staff, and — as hard as it is to believe — the fans. We need to let the situation play out. Let these young guys continue to get reps during camp and the preseason.
But starting a young QB before he’s ready can stunt his growth and lead to an incomplete evaluation of the most important position in all of sports.