Ravens rival is still searching for answers at QB despite a massive overload

USA Today

4 days ago

Ravens rival is still searching for answers at QB despite a massive overload The Browns have stockpiled at the quarterback position but are still without legitimate answers.
We've learned a lot from OTAs already, and at the time of this story's release, the Baltimore Ravens aren't even halfway through the process of completing them. They've drawn a line through May 27-29. Seven days remain: June 3, June 5-6, June 9-12. Then, we turn the page to mandatory minicamp, which will take place from June 17 to 19.
Lights... Camera... Action... Lamar 'Action' Jackson and the usual cast of characters are present. This session wasn't even mandatory, so seeing so many of the team's stars present and leading the way has been a joy to watch. The old guys are even getting the work in. DeAndre Hopkins seems to have found the fountain of youth and appears fully capable of putting the pedal to the metal.
It's early, but the Ravens appear ready to defend their crown. Their AFC North rivals look more like speed bumps than real competition.
That brings us to the laughingstock of this division, the always comical Cleveland Browns. They seem even more confused than usual, and ladies and gentlemen, that says a heck of a lot.
Thankfully, the Ravens don't have the same mess at quarterback that everyone sees with the Cleveland Browns.
By now, you've watched enough football to know that the serious contenders in this league need to have answered the question about who their franchise quarterback is. The Ravens have theirs. The Cincinnati Bengals have a good one (and some wide receivers). Cincinnati seems inept at making wise decisions about the rest of its roster.
There's no need to troll the Bengals. Marlon Humphrey is on the job and has it covered.
It feels like the Pittsburgh Steelers are flirting with Aaron Rodgers, and he's tossed a wink back. Neither side seems willing to commit, though. The Browns have too many quarterbacks, and none of them seem like they're a realistic answer to lead the franchise.
Thankfully, the Ravens don't have that problem, but if you've been busy and lost track of what the Browns are doing, don't stress. You aren't alone. Here's a look at the signal-callers they have on the roster.
Joe Flacco
Once a Ravens Super Bowl hero, Joe Flacco left after 11 seasons and is now enjoying a journeyman career. He is now the enemy after joining Cleveland.
Joe is 40 now, and after following a good season in Cleveland with a brief stay in Indianapolis, he's back in Ohio. Trust us on this, though. Joe's days of productive football are over.
Kenny Pickett
Pittsburgh drafted Kenny Pickett, and they gave up on him after two seasons. He landed in the City of Brotherly Love, won a Super Bowl, and they traded him away.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, whom we aren't sure is better than Pickett, was part of the deal. So was a fifth-round draft choice. Pickett probably won't win the starting job. We'll see what happens, but if you're thinking of placing wagers, this seems like a losing proposition.
Shedeur Sanders
Now, we're having fun. Shedeur Sanders allegedly didn't want to play in Cleveland... And, he got drafted by Cleveland... You can't make this stuff up. This is precisely what the Browns needed: a locker room distraction who may not see the field for a while.
While Sanders is good for television, the questions now are about whether he's good enough to win in the NFL. Put a pin in this one. This could get interesting.
Dillon Gabriel
The Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel in Round 3, nearly two complete rounds ahead of Shedeur Sanders. That says a lot when Sanders was once expected to be the second quarterback taken.
Gabriel, a 2024 First-Team All-American, earned Big Ten Most Valuable Player and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2024. He was also named Big Ten Quarterback of the Year.
None of that will help him win a starting job. He, however, seems to have the same shot as everyone else on the roster. That may not be a good thing, as The Athletic's Zac Johnson recently caused a stir by stating that Gabriel "doesn't look like an NFL quarterback."
Ouch. That had to hurt!
Deshaun Watson
Here lies the career of Deshaun Watson, a once-promising star who seemed like he'd be the future of the NFL. What can we say? Things don't always work out as people expect.
There's no longer a need to discuss how bad his deal was or how wrong the Browns were for giving it to him. There's no need to discuss that his reputation is now in shambles. Those angles have been beaten to death, so here's where the rubber meets the road. Watson won't play in Cleveland in 2025, and his time there is, in all likelihood, over.
Erase his name on the chalkboard. Replace it with the names Flacco, Pickett, Sanders, and Gabriel. Four bodies at quarterback... No real answers... A ton of comic relief for Ravens fans.