In Berea, Ohio, during their eighth training camp practice, the Cleveland Browns were still more than 30 minutes away from starting team drills when quarterback Chedure Sanders was already out on the field. Soon after, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Kenny Pickett joined him, with quarterback coach Bill Musgrave overseeing drills, including filming shotgun snaps and some warm-up throws.
This offseason, the Browns are among three NFL teams (alongside the Colts and Saints) engaged in a quarterback competition that has seen some twists over the first 10 practices. Pickett, returning from a hamstring injury, participated with limited capability last Friday. Sanders was taken out of team drills on Saturday after reporting arm pain during individual reps, leaving Flacco and Gabriel to run all reps. On Monday, Sanders resumed full participation while Gabriel dealt with hamstring tightness. Then, on Tuesday, the Browns bolstered their quarterback room by signing Tyler Huntley following an injury that created more depth concerns.
Coach Kevin Stefanski made it clear that the team hasn’t finalized its starting quarterback decision yet, although the first unofficial depth chart placed veteran Flacco as the starter, followed by Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders. Flacco, a seasoned player with 18 years in the league, Pickett, the 2022 first-rounder, and Gabriel, a third-round pick in 2025, have all gotten reps with the first team offense, while Sanders is leading the backup unit. Meanwhile, DeShaun Watson remains sidelined due to an Achilles injury expected to keep him out for most of the season.
Pickett, who hasn’t been practicing fully as of Monday, stressed the importance of staying ready and competitive, saying, “It’s the next guy, and when you’re not in the competition, you lose ground.” The Browns plan to hold a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers Wednesday ahead of their preseason opener Friday night, with insiders indicating Sanders will be the starting quarterback for that game.
Stefanski addressed the media at the start of camp, cautioning against premature conclusions about the QB competition, stating the situation could change daily. Early drills showed Pickett taking first-team snaps, with Gabriel and Sanders handling backup duties. Flacco saw limited action as he conserved energy. The team is rotating reps fairly among quarterbacks, aiming to find the right rhythm and balance for both players and offensive linemen syncing with different passers.
Gabriel currently leads in total snaps through camp, but Flacco dominates first-team reps. Sanders, the fifth-round pick, hasn’t taken first-team snaps but has led second-team offense plays during practice against starters. Flacco noted the importance of staying prepared even when reps are limited, emphasizing arm readiness through drills like long toss.
Given the limited practice repetitions available, the Browns have creatively split reps across two fields and utilize a virtual walkthrough room for quarterbacks to work through plays interactively. Post-practice “hangried dragons” sessions offer younger quarterbacks and backups competitive reps, with Gabriel and Sanders often leading these efforts.
As preseason games and joint practices with the Panthers and Eagles approach, Stefanski plans to use these opportunities to evaluate quarterbacks before making a final decision on the starter. Sanders remains confident and focused on minimizing mistakes while embracing the pressure of the competition despite his relative inexperience at the NFL level.
Fan Take: This quarterback competition highlights the intense battle for the Browns’ future signal-caller role, a storyline that could redefine the team’s trajectory this season. For NFL fans, watching this contest unfold is not just about roster decisions but about seeing young talent rise and impact one of the league’s storied franchises.
