Browns' best QB after Day 1 is Joe Flacco, but who'll start Game 1 is complicated
BEREA, Ohio — The past and potential future were on full display Wednesday when two things seemed evident watching the Browns' organized team activity:
1. Shedeur Sanders is very clearly fourth on the depth chart.
2. Joe Flacco is still the best quarterback on this roster.
How any of that changes, if at all, between now and September remains to be seen.
Advertisement
The Browns have a lot to sort through over the next 12 months. The trade-down with the Jacksonville Jaguars on draft day to acquire a future first-round pick signaled they were punting on finding a franchise quarterback until next year's draft.
But since they have the next 11 months, 17 games and too many practices to count between now and then, they might as well pass the time by seeing if either of the two darts they threw in the middle and late rounds of this draft — Dillon Gabriel and Sanders — can find the dart board.
That complicates what we'll witness as OTAs, minicamps, training camp and eventually the regular season play out.
Even at 40, Flacco can still spin it. The arm strength on display Wednesday was undeniable. I have thought since the draft concluded, even after the Browns selected Gabriel and Sanders, that Kenny Pickett begins this competition with the edge to be the starter.
He got here first. The Browns pursued him shortly after last season ended. They gave up an asset to acquire him. He turns 27 next month and has two years of experience as a starter in the NFL, meaning theoretically he should still have quite a bit of football in front of him.
.@Jamari_Thrash making plays 😯 pic.twitter.com/u88R25zVvN
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 28, 2025
Then you watch the way Flacco slings it downfield, the way he commands the huddle, listen to others explain how he commands the quarterback room, and it puts the Browns at an interesting intersection.
Do you play the old man, even if he wins you an extra game or two that might be counterintuitive to the high draft pick you covet next year? Or play the kids now and see what you have?
deep dot from @JoeFlacco 🎯@jerryjeudy | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/M0USuMyuTq
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 28, 2025
If this is a lost season, or more politely a season of transition as the Browns continue to clear out the cap carnage from the Deshaun Watson era, it makes sense to lean into the youth movement, for better or worse. They have 17 games to figure out if Gabriel or Sanders is the long-term solution. If they're not, they'll likely be in position to draft a quarterback next year.
Advertisement
That's where Sanders is trying to fit into all of this. He was the only quarterback of the four not to take a rep with the starters in full team drills on Wednesday. That isn't necessarily surprising since he was the last one in the room as a fifth-round rookie.
This is also where it's important to point out we're judging all of this based on one OTA practice in May. It's the only practice this week that was open to reporters. Kevin Stefanski could just as easily give the starter's reps Gabriel received on Wednesday to Sanders on Thursday when reporters aren't allowed on the field.
Or he could elect to give Sanders starter's reps next Wednesday, when the media will again be watching. But the one day this week the media is able to watch, not giving Sanders a single rep with the starters during 11-on-11 drills was certainly noticeable.
Stefanski has cautioned multiple times not to pay attention to the batting order in which the Browns' four quarterbacks take reps because the lineup is going to change.
But what about the number of snaps? Or more specifically, the lack of snaps?
If Sanders is going to win this job, or even a spot on the roster, he has some hurdling to do. Luckily for him, he has plenty of time.
The Browns' unique setup of running simultaneous 7-on-7 and then 11-on-11 drills on parallel fields was intended to ensure all four quarterbacks got enough reps. It's just that Sanders was throwing primarily to guys who probably won't be here in September.
Whether Sanders is one of those roster cuts remains to be seen. Right now, the quarterback who is only three years younger than the head coach is still the best passer on the field.
How the Browns truly want to approach this season might dictate who starts and who sits.
Who ultimately wins the job? Like everything else with the Browns these days, it's complicated.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
11 minutes ago
- Forbes
More Musk-Trump Fallout: Tesla Sales Will Shrink At Historic Pace, Goldman Says
A pessimistic prediction for Tesla sales from Goldman Sachs added further fuel to the Tesla fire, as the unraveling relationship between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his former close ally President Donald Trump plays out publicly, accelerating Wall Street's concerns about the increasing exposure of Tesla to Musk's outspoken politics. Elon Musk has alienated 'multiple sides of the political spectrum' from Tesla, according to one ... More prominent Wall Street analyst. In a late Thursday note to clients, Goldman Sachs analysts led by Mark Delaney slashed their forecast for second-quarter Tesla vehicle deliveries to 365,000, far below consensus analyst forecasts of 405,000, according to FactSet. That would be an 18% decline from the same period last year, equating to by far the weakest quarterly deliveries growth since at least 2015, the extent of quarterly delivery data available on Tesla's investor relations website. It's another knock for Tesla as analysts warn this week's quarrel between Musk and the president, who Musk donated $288 million last year to help elect alongside other Republican candidates, could further weigh on Tesla, which is already grappling with declining brand sentiment on the left, historically the base for EV purchasers. This disagreement 'could potentially (temporarily) alienate multiple sides of the political spectrum," warned Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas in a Friday note. Tesla stock bounced back Friday, gaining 6% by early afternoon as part of a broader rally. That only recovered a small portion of Thursday's historic loss, as the Musk-led firm's share price is down 9% since Wednesday. The Musk-Trump division "clearly raises the degree of [near-term' uncertainty' for Tesla, according to TD Cowen analyst Itay Michaeli. Amid the kerfuffle, Trump threatened to cancel all of the federal government's contracts with Musk's portfolio of companies. That would likely impact the private aerospace and communications firm SpaceX far more than Tesla, which does not rely on government contracts for a significant portion of its revenues, but there is a way Trump could target Tesla's bottom line directly. Trump could restrict Tesla's ability to sell its automotive regulatory credits, according to Morningstar strategist Seth Goldstein, referring to the essentially free profit Tesla gets from selling its emissions credits to gas-powered automakers. That could dramatically reduce Tesla profits, as it reported $595 million in those regulatory credits compared to a $934 million net income during 2025's first quarter, meaning the credits directly contributed about two-thirds of its net profit. Since Musk announced his purchase of Twitter (now X) in 2022, Tesla stock has frequently faced downward pressure as its top decisionmaker and shareholder Musk became increasingly outspoken on politics to much controversy. Musk endorsed Trump in July and rose to become perhaps the most prominent and powerful figure in the early days of Trump's second administration, though the perceived impact of Musk's buddying up to Trump turned negative this year as sales globally for the automaker tumbled. In a further sign of fray in the relationship between Musk and Trump, the president has decided to sell his Tesla Model S, according to the New York Times. Tesla is expected to report its Q2 delivery numbers July 2.
Fox News
12 minutes ago
- Fox News
Behind the scenes of Trump's 'iconic' McDonald's visit before election victory
Fox Nation is offering a rare glimpse into Donald Trump's pivotal McDonald's visit during the final weeks of his 2024 campaign with a multi-episode installment of "The Art of the Surge." It all starts at a McDonald's drive-thru, where the then-GOP nominee traded a suit for an apron and got to work as a fry cook in Feasterville, Pennsylvania last October. "I've always wanted to work at McDonald's, and I never did," he told workers inside the building. The first episode of the series documents Trump's "first day" on the job from the very beginning, as he requested to work the french fry cooker and learned the process. He walked through, step-by-step, dunking fries into hot oil, shaking the basket, pouring servings into the signature red McDonald's cartons and sprinkling salt over them. It became an iconic moment on the campaign trail as the notorious New York City business magnate-turned-president performed a job many Americans have had at one point in their lives. He even greeted customers wrapped around the building at the drive-thru window. As one family took a Happy Meal from his hands he quipped with a smile, "It's going to be the best you've ever had. It had better be. I made it myself." Customers passed on their messages of encouragement as the high-stakes faceoff with then-vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris was merely two weeks away, with both teams in a mad sprint to the finish line. "Make America great again!" one driver said. Another, shaking hands with Trump, said, "45-47, you've got this, sir." Trump paused, on occasion, to wave at the mass of fans cheering and holding "Trump-Vance" signs nearby. He told WTXF reporter JoAnn Pileggi that the crowd was smiling and upbeat because they wanted hope. Turning back inside the building, he faced the camera at one point and smiled as he noted how much fun he was having. "I could do this all day. I wouldn't mind this job," he said. Trump's efforts were viewed by many as a mockery of a claim his opponent had worked for the fast food chain while in college. At one point, Trump even remarked, "I've now worked for 15 minutes. Fifteen more than Kamala." As his team departed on his personal plane, Trump's deputy director of communications Margo Martin enthused about the day. "That was epic," she said. "Donald Trump working the McDonald's drive-thru – iconic." Trump would go on to defeat Harris in the 2024 election, sweeping all campaign swing states, including Pennsylvania. "The Art of the Surge" follows that journey to the finish line even after the McDonald's stop-in, showing last-minute efforts like podcast visits and his massive Madison Square Garden rally, while also featuring Trump allies like Alina Habba, Tulsi Gabbard, Hulk Hogan and more. To watch the series, subscribe to Fox Nation and begin streaming "The Art of the Surge" today. Fox Nation programs are viewable on-demand and from your mobile device app, but only for Fox Nation subscribers. Go to Fox Nation to start a free trial and watch the extensive library from your favorite Fox Nation personalities.
CNET
13 minutes ago
- CNET
Score Phones Like the Samsung S25 From $30 Per Month Plus Two Years of Unlimited With Mint Mobile
Choosing between different smartphones and phone plans can be a headache. You're usually picking between expensive plans and more expensive plans to go along with them. This could easily run you thousands of dollars, especially if your looking for a top tier phone like the iPhone 16 or Samsung Galaxy S25 and perks like unlimited data. However, Mint Mobile just dropped some deals that can help you save hundreds of dollars. Right now, you can score two years of unlimited data and a new phone all for just $30 per month. Prices start at $30 per month but vary based on what phone you pick. There are tons of options from Google Pixels, Galaxy S25, iPhones and more. Keep in mind this offer is available for new customers only. The Samsung Galaxy S25 is now just $30 a month including unlimited data for two years. This is a pretty big savings of $440 on the phone and another $360 on the data plan. The Samsung Galaxy S25 is a great choice. In fact, we ranked it our favorite Android phone of 2025. We love the high quality camera, impressive battery life and the AI features. If you want the Galaxy S25 Plus, that will cost you $39 per month. Remember, you must keep this phone and plan for two years to keep the deal. There are lots of color options still availble but act fast as they can sell out at anytime. Not looking for a Galaxy? No problem there are lots of other options. The coveted iPhone 16 lineup is a part of this deal as well. You can score the iPhone 16e for just $40 per month. And if you want something more elaborate, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at just $65 per month. These phones come with the unlimited data as well. The Google Pixel 9 is available, too. You can score the Pixel 9 for just $30 a month. Be sure to check out the full sale to see which phone you want. Why this deal matters Many of these phones retail for hundreds if not thousands of dollars. By taking advantage of one of these deals you can score hundreds of dollars off the phone. The only catch is you need to sign up for Mint Mobile's service plan but that comes with offers too, such as two years of unlimited data included in your plan for $15 per month when you buy a new phone.
