This summer, the Cleveland Browns and head coach Kevin Stefanski are keeping their cards close to their chest as they approach training camp, marked by a four-way battle for the quarterback position ahead of the 2025 season. On Monday, Stefanski expressed satisfaction with the progress of rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, while also praising the veterans present in the room.
Across the league, there is a consensus that the Browns may keep just three quarterbacks, possibly using one as trade leverage before the first game of the season.
“Those guys are doing great,” Stefanski remarked about his rookie quarterbacks. “They have the drive to come in early, stay late, and put in all the necessary work. They’re like sponges in the meeting room, which is really enjoyable for me to watch. From my perspective, I see the two young guys observing Joe (Flacco), who’s 40 years old and has a Super Bowl ring. Then there’s Kenny Pickett, heading into Year 4 as a first-round draft pick who was on a couple of teams and just won a Super Bowl last year.”
“And then you have Deshaun (Watson), who’s had significant success in his career. They can draw from the experiences of all these players, and it’s exciting for me to watch them improve just by listening.”
For now, there’s no urgency for Stefanski to make definitive decisions or share his true evaluations. He believes there is still ample time to assess performance. Recently, the Browns announced that all four quarterbacks were receiving reps during OTAs, although this is likely to change as the team approaches the mandatory minicamp later in the month.
The standout contender for the starting position, Flacco, expressed last week that he doesn’t see himself as a mentor for the younger quarterbacks. It’s difficult to dispute Flacco’s claim, especially since he’s on a contract with performance incentives tied to his playtime this season based on how well he performs and how much he plays.
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With Watson likely to be sidelined for most, if not all, of the season due to injury, the competition for the first-string job is between Flacco and Pickett, with both rookies vying for backup roles.
“I’m just trying to go out there and do what I do; everything else is beyond my control,” Flacco stated. “It’s enjoyable to get back out and play some football again. It’s interesting; every time I step out here in the offseason, despite having done it countless times, there’s always a part of me thinking, ‘Let’s see if I can still read it and make the throw.’ So it feels good to start doing that again.”
Stefanski noted last month he “likes everything about Shedeur” and praised his work ethic. He has shared similar sentiments about Gabriel, a third-round pick from Oregon. These remarks currently reflect typical coach speak, as final roster decisions will come later this summer, after which the Browns can implement their strategy at the quarterback position.
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