UNPREDICTABLE. Is the word I will be using to describe the Cleveland Browns QB Room. The Browns have one of the wildest quarterback rooms in the NFL. With 5 potential starting QBs or QB2s, the Cleveland organization has a major situation at the QB position to figure out. Let’s take a look at each of the quarterbacks.
DESHAUN WATSON
Deshaun Watson came over from the Houston Texans in a trade that would be a fresh start for him and the Texans organization. After multiple sexual allegations with massage therapists, the Texans needed to get away from a quarterback with a bad reputation. The Cleveland Browns were interested in Watson and sent 3 first round draft picks, 1 second round draft pick, as well as a fifth round draft pick swap in exchange for the “at the time,” star studded quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Deshaun Watson Stats with Cleveland Browns:
9-10 Overall Record (19 games played)
3,365 Passing Yards
19 Passing Touchdowns
12 Interceptions
61.2% Completion Percentage
83.7 QBR
0 playoff Appearances (2023-2024 WildCard birth was led by QB Joe Flacco)
Since Watson’s arrival in Cleveland, Watson has had a significant decline in performance. Safe to say the gamble that the Cleveland organization made on Watson with the draft capital has not paid off. His off-field issues and injuries keep him limited which could affect his performance on the field. Watson will begin as the QB5 on the IR to begin the season due to his retear in his right achilles tendon, causing him to miss the start of the 2025-2026 season.
It’s safe to say it’s time for the Browns to move on from Deshaun Watson. Watson’s time in the NFL might be coming to an end, or he needs a fresh mental reset with some other team. It’s going to take an extended period of time for the prime Deshaun Watson to return, and it most likely will not be Browns.
JOE FLACCO
Joe Flacco continues to show that “Father Time” is not a factor in his NFL performances. After winning the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens during the 2012-2013 season, Flacco was getting bounced around from team to team. He later landed a backup role with the Cleveland Browns. Flacco was nearing the end of his football career, which is what he thought, until Deshaun Watson went out with a season-ending injury and the Browns needed to make a strong overall push to make the playoffs. Flacco delivered in the 5 game span:
2023-2024 Joe Flacco Stats with Cleveland Browns
1,616 Passing Yards
13 Passing Touchdowns
8 Interceptions
60.3% Completion Percentage
90.2 QBR
4-1 Record (5 Regular Season Games Played)
2023-2024 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
0-1 Playoff Record (Loss to Houston Texans in AFC WildCard)
2nd in AFC North
The impressive comeback by Flacco would lead him to a WildCard berth against the Houston Texans. The “Cinderella” run by Flacco and the Browns would end there, but Flacco would not leave home empty-handed. He would win the 2023-2024 Comeback Player of the Year and with multiple teams being interested in a potential QB2. One of which would be the Indianapolis Colts. Just when he thought he might sit behind QB Anthony Richardson for the rest of the year, Richardson would leave a game, sustaining a long term injury that would force Flacco to play 8 games. Flacco looked solid during his 8 games with the Colts:
2024-2025 Joe Flacco Stats with Indianapolis Colts
1,761 Passing Yards
12 Passing Touchdowns
7 Interceptions
65.3% Completion Percentage
90.5 QBR
3-5 Regular Season Record (6 games started)
Missed Playoffs/DNP
2nd in AFC South
Flacco as mentioned earlier showed himself and his kids that even though he’s 40 years old, father time will never take him down. He did give up the starting role to Anthony Richardson when Richardson returned, however, did mentor Richardson regularly, especially when he was struggling. After hitting the free agency market following the 2024-2025 season, the Browns picked up Flacco again, needing a serviceable QB. Joe Flacco will likely serve as QB1 for the Browns during the start of the season. Sitting behind him will be Kenny Pickett.
KENNY PICKETT
Kenny Pickett was selected in the first round a couple years back by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pickett was proven to be an extremely inconsistent quarterback. There were flashes of strength, but nothing eye-opening. Pickett throughout his career in the NFL has produced these stats:
Kenny Pickett (2022-2025 / 3 Seasons)
Pittsburgh Steelers x2 QB1, Philadelphia Eagles x1 QB2
4,765 Passing Yards
15 Passing Touchdowns
14 Interceptions
62.4% Completion Percentage
79.3 QBR
0-1 (1 Playoff Appearance)
Kenny Pickett is likely going to begin the season as the QB2 for the Cleveland Browns due to his experience over the 2 rookie quarterbacks, as well as an injured Deshaun Watson. He will likely slide down the quarterback depth chart as soon as the season gets going when the rookies show development and Deshaun Watson coming back from injury.
SHEDEUR SANDERS
5th Round Draft Pick
Jackson State University, University of Colorado
14,327 Passing Yards
134 Passing Touchdowns
27 Interceptions
70.1% Completion Percentage
158.4 Passer Rating
29 Rushing Yards
17 Rushing Touchdowns
50 Games Played
Experts Draft Grade: A-
My Draft Grade: A-
Football Analysis Draft Grade: B
Shedeur Sanders was one of the most anticipated draft picks in the NFL Draft. From being projected as a top 10 draft pick, to sliding all the way to the 5th round, pick 144. Sanders’ career can go 2 ways: he either continues to show his arrogant attitude and doesn’t develop, leading to multiple teams passing on him; or Sanders begins to be a student of the system, learns from offensive masterminds, perfects his crafts, becomes a top QB in the league and shows everyone why he was a top rated draft pick in the first place.
I personally think Sanders will do well with the Browns. I think he will eventually be the QB1 or QB2 for the Cleveland Browns. There is a lot of upside with Sanders, including the fact that he has a strong arm, a good pocket presence (considering the fact that his O-line was one of the worst in college football), decent accuracy, decent decision making, and can read defenses well. The issue I have is, will he adapt to the NFL fast enough? Will he scramble too much and take massive loss of yardage? Will he make strong decisions? Don’t get me wrong, Sanders is the biggest steal in the NFL Draft. I just think Shedeur will be a great developmental quarterback due to his inability to find any other targets other than his first read (when not available). He is the Browns answer at QB for the future, just not now. If Gabriel is the answer at QB1 for the Browns, then Sanders would likely shine somewhere else, with quarterback needy teams like the New Orleans Saints.
DILLON GABRIEL
3rd Round Draft Pick
University of Central Florida, University of Oklahoma, University of Oregon
18,722 Passing Yards
155 Passing Touchdowns
32 Interceptions
65.2% Completion Percentage
160.9 Passer Rating
1,209 Rushing Yards
33 Rushing Touchdowns
64 Total Games Played (64 games started)
Experts Draft Grade: B+
My Draft Grade: B+
Football Analysis Draft Grade: C
The answer at quarterback for now in my perspective will be Dillon Gabriel. One of the most valuable things a quarterback needs is IQ. Though Gabriel doesn’t have as strong of a cannon of an arm like Shedeur Sanders, he has extremely good accuracy, a good pocket presence, dual threat ability, one of a kind decision-making ability, navigation in the pocket, and extending plays with his legs. Gabriel also fits well with the Browns offense: he has more experience against good/strong teams, he’s good at making the right read, and has a huge amount of potential. In my perspective, I see him as a QB that can be better than Patrick Mahomes in the future on the left side. The only issue is his size, which is something that can be overlooked. He slings the ball well and has some serious zip in his throw. He now holds the NFL Combine record for the fastest thrown football. With his progression, I see him as QB1 for the Cleveland Browns by mid season.
