The Cleveland Browns have endured the biggest quarterback carousel ever. Since their return to the league in 1999, they have had 40 different signal-callers play a game. The second-most in the same period, the Chicago Bears, have had 30. They tried to get it right, using five first-round picks on quarterbacks since 1999, including two first overall picks (Tim Couch in 1999 and Baker Mayfield in 2018).
Their most recent attempt didn’t come via Draft, but rather in the trade market. Not satisfied with Baker Mayfield, the Browns traded for Texans’ QB Deshaun Watson. There are several problems with this move, and we’ll address them in a minute. The Watson trade didn’t pan out, as he got injured a lot and, when healthy, wasn’t close to the player he was in Houston.
Watson tore his Achilles during the 2024 season and again in January, putting his availability for the 2025 season at risk. Without knowing if they’d have their starter, the Browns signed Joe Flacco in free agency and traded for Kenny Pickett. Although Flacco and Pickett won’t be the best QB room in the league, they at least give HC Kevin Stefanski better options than in 2024.
Because neither Flacco nor Pickett are long-term solutions, the Browns were heavily linked to QBs in the Draft, particularly Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. We all know about the free-fall Sanders had in the Draft, being mocked in the first round throughout the process, but selected only in the fifth round. The Browns selecting Sanders with the 144th pick isn’t weird by any means; the head-scratching part is that they used the 94th pick on Oregon’s QB Dillon Gabriel.
This means the Browns have 5 QBs on their roster. Watson was likely to miss the whole season, but now it appears he can recover in time to play at some point. With five options, who will Kevin Stefanski trust first?
#5 Deshaun Watson
There are over 24 reasons why Watson shouldn’t be in the NFL. None has to do with injuries or how he has played in Cleveland. Even if you try to judge him solely by his play, Watson has been one of the worst quarterbacks since 2022. Between injuries and a suspension by the NFL, Watson has played in 19 games over three seasons. In these 19 games, his numbers are way below league average, ranking bottom five in most categories.
#4 Dillon Gabriel
I liked Gabriel, but I thought the 94th pick was too rich for him. Gabriel will rarely push the ball down the field or make tight-window throws. Instead, he’ll quickly get the ball to his receivers and rely on yards after the catch. He was drafted ahead of Sanders, but I think the latter is better and will show it during camp.
#3 Joe Flacco
If I had to choose one of the five Browns’ QBs to play one game, I’d pick Flacco in a heartbeat. At 40 years old, though, there’s little reason to pick him to start an entire season. He can come in a pinch in case something goes wrong. Not to add insult to injury, but usually something goes wrong with the Browns, so Flacco may start a couple of games. Flacco said he’s there to play, not to be a mentor.
#2 Shedeur Sanders
I didn’t think Sanders should be taken in the first round, but no one could’ve predicted what happened. Falling to the fifth round, he will have to climb a mountain if he wants to live up to the hype he had. He won’t wow with his running skills or arm strength, but he is smart and accurate in short and intermediate passes. If he can make the most of his opportunities, there’s a chance he can start at some point this season.
#1 Kenny Pickett
Do I think Pickett is a great QB? No. Do I think he’s good? Not really. However, he wins the job by default. Unless one of the rookies impresses a lot during training camp, Pickett should be the starting QB in Week 1. Now, do I think he ends the season as the starter? Also no.
The Browns have two first-round picks in 2026, and the QB class should be a lot better. This means the Browns have to decide if Sanders or Gabriel can be the future, or if they’ll use another high pick on a quarterback. So, unless Pickett has the best year of his career and proves that he can be the future, Stefanski will feel pressured to put at least one of the rookies on the field.
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