With NFL training camp set to open, the Cleveland Browns are going to be one of the more interesting teams to keep an eye on.
Entering training camp, the Browns have a quarterback competition raging. Not only do they have that competition to watch, they have four players competing in it.
Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel are all looking to win the right to be the team’s Week 1 starting quarterback. At this point, no one has any clue which player will earn that honor.
Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images
While Flacco has been viewed as the likely Week 1 starter with Pickett right behind him, that may not end up being the case.
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A new update has been given regarding the quarterback competition that was quite surprising.
According to Cleveland analyst Tom Rizzo in an appearance on ESPN Cleveland, Pickett and Gabriel are the two most likely starting options for the Browns right now.
“I’m telling you that I believe that Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are the two guys that I’d be looking at right now to start,” he said.
Pickett was acquired during the offseason in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
He was the No. 20 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and has played in 30 games over three years. In those appearances, he has completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 4,765 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
As for Gabriel, Cleveland selected him in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the No. 94 overall pick. He is coming off of a big season with the Oregon Ducks last season, completing 72.9 percent of his pass attempts for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
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Notably, Flacco would likely be the odd man out of the quarterback room. If the Browns did start Pickett or Gabriel, Flacco would likely hit the trade block.
Shedeur Sanders would also remain on the sideline competing for playing time. Many expect to see him get playing time throughout his rookie season and potentially even be the long-term starter by the end of the year.
Only time will tell, but this is an unexpected and surprising update and outlook for what Cleveland could choose to do under center.
For more Cleveland Browns and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
