Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett or new addition Tyler Huntley- who will be Browns QB1?
It was an important day for folks over at Cleveland Browns camp as head coach Kevin Stefanski made a major decision in finalizing the starting quarterback for the preseason opener game against the Bryce Young-led Carolina Panthers. After a few days into practice camp, today, it was confirmed that Shedeur Sanders will be the starting QB on Friday, alongside new addition, former Dolphins QB Tyler Huntley.
This news comes at a time when the Ohio-based team is at the centre of preseason storylines. In addition to having four NFL-calibre day one starters in experienced guys like Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and accomplished rookies in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the Browns traded for yet another quarterback, Tyler Huntley, populating an already overcrowded QB room for 2025. Here is the Browns news roundup for the week:
Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Dreams Soar High Following Starting QB Announcement
Much was said about Shedeur Sanders’ QB abilities by prominent analysts and Draft pundits, but everything came crashing down when the ex-Colorado QB slid from an early top-5, 1st round, down to a 5th round selection. This is after the Browns had already drafted a third-round QB in Dillion Gabriel. What followed was a lot of furore from both sides of the camp in the selection. Recently, when Cleveland’s preseason camp began, there was ambiguity around the starting quarterback for the preseason opener against the Panthers.
In a major relief for Shedeur Sanders, his NFL dream finally came calling in a starting preseason role against the Panthers, primarily due to hamstring injuries to Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett.
The Texas-born signal caller’s camp stats today in a joint practice with the Panthers were 4 of 7 with zero touchdowns and interceptions, with former Eagles QB Kenny Pickett leading the pack with 2 touchdowns and a 5/7 completion rate.
Player
Completions
TDs
INTs
FLACCO
8/13
0
0
SANDERS
4/7
0
0
PICKETT
5/7
2
0
GABRIEL
7/8
1
0
HUNTLEY
2/5
0
0
The Browns open their preseason with a matchup with the Carolina Panthers, led by 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young.
Browns Starting QB Dilemma – How we got here
The Browns have the most overloaded QB depth chart in the entire league for 2025. The self-inflicted problem stemmed in 2022, taking a downturn months after the NFL team decided to trade for Houston star Deshaun Watson for over $220 million. A series of sexual assault allegations, recurring injuries, and inconsistent performances kept the ex-Clemson star from being true to his potential.
In his three years, he has managed to start only 19 games with 3365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with a passer rating of 80.7. Watson re-injured his Achilles tendon in January 2025, which reportedly rules him out for the 2025 regular season.
Kenny Pickett
The Browns signed Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning backup QB Kenny Pickett as a potential Deshaun Watson replacement in March as they waited to fill a near-empty depth chart before the 2025 Draft. Below are the former Philly QB2’s 2024 stats:
Statistic
Value
Games Played
5
Games Started
1
Passing Completions
25
Passing Attempts
42
Completion Percentage
59.50%
Passing Yards
291
Passing Touchdowns
2
Interceptions Thrown
1
Passer Rating
86.5
Rushing Carries
9
Rushing Yards
15
Rushing Touchdowns
1
Meanwhile, Joe Flacco was brought back by Cleveland in April 2025, following a one-year stint in Indianapolis, where he started 6 of 8 games with a completion rate above 65% and a passer rating of 90.5, along with twelve touchdowns against 7 interceptions. The 17-year NFL veteran threw for 1700+ yards with an impressive 293 PYPG in his six starts for the Colts.
Statistic
Value
Games Played
8
Games Started
6
Passing Yards
1,761
Passing Touchdowns
12
Interceptions Thrown
7
Completion Percentage
65.30%
Passer Rating
90.5
Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders
Despite having the second overall pick [which was later traded to the Jaguars], the Browns’ front office took the NFL world by surprise when they drafted not one, but two highly regarded quarterbacks in Dillon Gabriel [3rd round] and Shedeur Sanders [5th round]
Heisman finalist Gabriel had a great season with Oregon. The Ducks’ star led his team to the College Football Playoff as the Number 1 seed, crashing out following a shock defeat to Ohio State. The Buckeyes then went on to win the CFP National Championship.
2X Super Bowl winner Deion Sanders’ son made waves when he played for Colorado, alongside the likes of two-way, second overall pick Travis Hunter. Under his dad, Coach Prime, Sanders had a successful 9-4 Big 12 season with over 4000 passing yards and a completion rate of 74% in 13 games for the Buffaloes.
Statistic
Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)
Games Played
13
14
Completion Percentage
74.00%
72.90%
Passing Yards
4,134
3,857
Passing Touchdowns
37
30
Interceptions Thrown
10
6
Rushing Yards
-50
149
Rushing Touchdowns
4
7
Passer Rating
168.2
164.9
Tyler Huntley
As if that wasn’t enough, Jimmy Haslam’s team added YET ANOTHER quarterback in Tyler Huntley from the Miami Dolphins DURING the training camp because of apparent injuries to Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett
Present Day Situation – August 2025
The Browns’ first unofficial depth charts had Sanders as a 4th string QB. The pack was led by Joe Flacco, followed by the likes of injured QBs Pickett and Gabriel, and Watson, soon to be replaced by new addition Tyler Huntley. The Browns’ management now has 6 playcallers, which is generally unlikely for traditionally successful NFL teams
Browns QB Depth Chart [August 5, 2025]
Rank
Quarterback
1st
Joe Flacco
2nd
Kenny Pickett
3rd
Dillon Gabriel
4th
Shedeur Sanders
5th
Deshaun Watson
Jimmy Haslam’s ‘Quest’ For Arch Manning
Per reports, longtime Cleveland Browns owner and billionaire Jimmy Haslam highly rates Arch Manning, the current Texas starting QB. ESPN Cleveland Radio host Tony Rizzo claimed that the Browns owner’s ‘thirst’ for Arch Manning is ‘unmatched’. Rizzo went on to state that if Arch declares in 2026, the Cleveland management will be desperate to sign him, further pointing out the team’s first-round draft capital in 2026.
“I know he would not admit it and it’s nothing that they want to talk about. But I’m telling you the thirst that Jimmy Haslam has for Arch Manning is unmatched.” “You know the connection. Haslam has donated a ton of money to Tennessee, and they have a good relationship with the Manning family. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they acquired a second first round pick. I don’t know whether this kid’s coming out or not. It was described to me by the billionaire that said in a perfect world that guy would be in Cleveland next year and they would do anything to get him.”
Adding fuel to this, Fox analyst Colin Cowherd in his ‘The Herd’ talk show recently speculated that the Browns will train Shedeur Sanders to be a backup if he plays well, with some quarterbacks being traded to make room for the new class of QBs in 2026 to acquire one of the talents in Penn State’s Drew Allar, Texas’ Arch Manning or LSU’s Garrett Nussemier. He further claimed that the Browns know they aren’t good this year.
Jimmy Haslam quashed rumors by stating that he knows the Manning family and they wouldn’t want the quarterback to declare until at least two years.
“I think if you know the Manning family, I would bet that, and I don’t know Arch at all, I would bet he stays in college two years”
Browns’ Preseason Schedule
The Cleveland Browns open their preseason campaign against the Carolina Panthers on Aug 8, followed by Eagles and Rams matchups.
