Who will be the Browns 2025 Week 1 Starting QB?
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Who will be the Browns 2025 Week 1 Starting QB? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Joe Bryant
- Start date
The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
Has to be Flacco, but nothing about the Browns and QBs have made sense since Bernie Kosar. They didn't do anything to change that this off-season either.
steelcityman
Footballguy
Does anybody care?
I care a lot!
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
It'll be Grampy Joe.
Better question, IMO™: "How many games does Joe Flacco start for the Browns in 2025, more or less than 9?"
Better question, IMO™: "How many games does Joe Flacco start for the Browns in 2025, more or less than 9?"
I know people online are saying, "they traded back this year for ammunition for next year" as if that is indicative that they are tanking. With that said, I don't think they are tanking and Joe Flacco previously lead this team (pretty much the same team) to the playoffs in 2023.
So my guess is that they attempt an actual season with Joe Flacco and once they've got 5 wins in late November, then you'll see Shedeur "unleashed".
So my guess is that they attempt an actual season with Joe Flacco and once they've got 5 wins in late November, then you'll see Shedeur "unleashed".
Agreed on Flacco, who I love, but way less than 9. Vegas has O/U at 4.5 wins. While we don't know the order, we do know the Browns opponents. Maybe Dolphins, maybe Titans, maybe Bears, maybe Jets, maybe Raiders. Maybe a split with Bengals or Steelers? I don't see any sure thing wins there. Depending on the order, could certainly see them starting 0-fer an indefinite amount of weeks which would necessitate a change at QB with other young options available.
Stinkin Ref
IBL Representative
question is about week one....I debated for a sec between Pickett and Flacco....but then realized Pickett has all summer/training camp/preseason to show why Pickett is......Pickett....so Flacco it is
oldmanhawkins
Footballguy
I'm in a superflex with Purdy, Flacco, Rattler and Rudolph. A few weeks ago I thought I would be tanking since I didn't have a QB2.
Now, I'm still tanking, but I might be able to get some future picks out of my three QB5s.
3C's
Footballguy
FWIW
5. Deshaun Watson (+5000)
4. Dillon Gabriel (+750)
3. Shedeur Sanders (+300)
2. Joe Flacco (+250)
1. Kenny Pickett (+100)
5. Deshaun Watson (+5000)
4. Dillon Gabriel (+750)
3. Shedeur Sanders (+300)
2. Joe Flacco (+250)
1. Kenny Pickett (+100)
Cleveland Browns QB odds: Where Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel rank for 2025
The Browns currently have five quarterbacks on their roster. Here's how the odds look for each one to start in Week 1 of the 2025 season.
www.usatoday.com
Wow, that's crazy. Only because that implicates that one of Gabriel / Sanders gets cut or sent to the practice squad, right? If Kenny is the FAVORITE that means Flacco is the backup, which leaves two dogs and one bone for that last spot.
Seems like it'd be easier to cut a 5th rounder than a 3rd rounder, although I suppose this situation is a little different than most. Who is more likely to not get poached from your PS? I figured Kenny Pickett would get cut, so I am shocked to see these odds. The gambler in me wants to throw $100 to $200 on the former Super Bowl MVP.
steelcityman
Footballguy
odin33
Footballguy
And that wouldn't even be the record for starters in a year. Geesh.
Put me down for Flacco.
Thanks. Can you elaborate on how and why you think he earns the starting job by Week 1?
Terpman22
Footballguy
Sure
Flacco is 40, hasn't played a full season since he was age 33. Odds that he might not be healthy or even good to start the season are not NIL
Pickett is Pickett, also a Super Bowl winning QB like Flacco, but would cost $$ if he wins starting job and they have to extend
Shadeur has been humbled and now will work his butt off to beat out these 2 guys that certainly are not franchise QBs.
Boom
Ruffrodys05
IBL Representative
Flacco is my vote.
Experience wins training camp battle, sans an injury.
Pickett has proven to be nothing more than a barely capable backup. His fortunes could change but, I think it unlikely.
Gabriel/Sanders will battle for 3rd string/practice squad.
I forget who their 5th QB is......oh, wait, it's Watson isn't it? Full season on Injured Reserve. Some additional minor ailment will present itself during training camp. Viola!
Experience wins training camp battle, sans an injury.
Pickett has proven to be nothing more than a barely capable backup. His fortunes could change but, I think it unlikely.
Gabriel/Sanders will battle for 3rd string/practice squad.
I forget who their 5th QB is......oh, wait, it's Watson isn't it? Full season on Injured Reserve. Some additional minor ailment will present itself during training camp. Viola!
-OZ-
Footballguy
although I think it’s more likelyFlacco week 1
Pickett week 4
Sanders week 8
Flacco week 11
Gabriel week 14
-OZ-
Footballguy
Would either be signed by another team if put on the PS?
Can they be?
A trade seems plausible.
Ruffrodys05
IBL Representative
Oh, did not think of that. Well, I guess Cleveland could keep 4 QB's on the active roster if they cannot find a suitable trade partner for either rookie. I wouldn't put it past them to put one on the practice squad either. Maybe they will get lucky (unlucky?) and one of the rookies also lands on IR for the season, which would eliminate the need for tough decisions to be made. Whew!!! Glad I figured that out. Thanks for the heads up @-OZ-
To me, it makes no sense to go with Flacco. They aren't a playoff team with him, and there's no future with him.
I think you go full open competition this summer, and Flacco only starts if everyone else completely bombs.
Ideally Sanders wins the job, but I'll vote for Pickett getting the 1st shot. He's the best combo of young, but also not being a rookie.
I think you go full open competition this summer, and Flacco only starts if everyone else completely bombs.
Ideally Sanders wins the job, but I'll vote for Pickett getting the 1st shot. He's the best combo of young, but also not being a rookie.
-OZ-
Footballguy
This is probably delusional but I don’t think stefanski goes into the season thinking “we have no chance guys, let’s start only the young players to develop them”.
Is his job really that secure where he won’t feel any pressure to win?
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
That's a good question
I want to know who might be the starter come Week 8
Joe Flacco or Pickett is my guess Week 1
And maybe we see both for a couple weeks until they can roll with one of the rookies
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
I wrote this in the Sanders thread but worth a repost
The Cleveland QB Room as it stands right now...
Kenny Pickett - $2.6M Guaranteed - Drafted in the middle of the 1st Rd just 3 years ago in '22 and this is his 3rd NFL team already? It's going well for him.
Joe Flacco - $3M Guaranteed - Reports were he signed an $11M 1 yr deal but I find no evidence of that, they can release him and simply be out $3M to have him lead camp all summer.
Dillon Gabriel - 3rd Rd Rookie contract, not sure how much guaranteed he gets but Pickett is on Yr 4 of his rookie deal, doubt Gabriel collects much upfront cash here
Shedeuer Sanders - 5th Rd Rookie contract, stands to make even less than Gabriel. How long will Dillon and Shedeuer be teammates in Cleveland?
DeShaun Watson - $46M in salary, still seems to carry a lot of dead weight against the cap if they part ways with him
The Cleveland QB Room as it stands right now...
Kenny Pickett - $2.6M Guaranteed - Drafted in the middle of the 1st Rd just 3 years ago in '22 and this is his 3rd NFL team already? It's going well for him.
Joe Flacco - $3M Guaranteed - Reports were he signed an $11M 1 yr deal but I find no evidence of that, they can release him and simply be out $3M to have him lead camp all summer.
Dillon Gabriel - 3rd Rd Rookie contract, not sure how much guaranteed he gets but Pickett is on Yr 4 of his rookie deal, doubt Gabriel collects much upfront cash here
Shedeuer Sanders - 5th Rd Rookie contract, stands to make even less than Gabriel. How long will Dillon and Shedeuer be teammates in Cleveland?
DeShaun Watson - $46M in salary, still seems to carry a lot of dead weight against the cap if they part ways with him
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Pickett will start week 1 with Flacco ready to enter at any time in the 2nd Half/2nd Q
If Flacco becomes the starter and Pickett plays himself off his 3rd NFL team as a former 1st Rd selection still on his rookie deal...if that happens then I think you see Gabriel up next
Sanders won't play a factor much in 2025, that's my opinion
-Unless he turns heads in camp or practice during the weeks leading up to the games and has everyone on the team feeling like he should be given the chance
Otherwise I don't think Sanders will see much action in Year 1
If Flacco becomes the starter and Pickett plays himself off his 3rd NFL team as a former 1st Rd selection still on his rookie deal...if that happens then I think you see Gabriel up next
Sanders won't play a factor much in 2025, that's my opinion
-Unless he turns heads in camp or practice during the weeks leading up to the games and has everyone on the team feeling like he should be given the chance
Otherwise I don't think Sanders will see much action in Year 1
I agree. it has to be Flacco.
there is a slim chance that Saunders comes in and blows the doors off, but the reality is I dont think hes quite ready for that. prior to the draft I said his scouting report is similar to that of Dak Prescott when he was at this point. while there are differences...... dak was a 4th round pick. I felt based on talent, this guy was a 2nd.
he may still be a good pro, but he needs to grow up a bit and develop some. Learning behind a vet like Flacco could provide him everything he needs. if hes coachable, he could be starting by mid season (or late season if flacco has the team in a playoff spot, then maybe we bump it to next season)
but I'd say the odds are just over 85% that Flacco starts the season as the starter. and thats actually not a bad thing.
3C's
Footballguy
That's the problem with the "they're not winning anything" crowd. The players and staff want to win every game possible so they'll put the players on the field that give them the best chance to do that until they have nothing to play for in week 10/11/12 or whatever.
ETA: not a shot at anyone/travdogg, just a general statement.
I'd argue that's a waste of a season. I think figuring out if any of Pickett, Gabriel, or Sanders have it, is more important than trying to maybe win 7 games with Flacco. The other guys might be able to do that (or better?) but have lower floors, its more important to figure out it any of them can be that. I don't think not going with Flacco=tanking. I think Flacco should be the "try and salvage the season, if everyone else sucks" option.
I think Stefanski has a relatively safe job. I'd be pretty shocked if he were fired, even if the Browns were picking #2 again.
I'd also argue, why are we (just people in general) acting like Flacco is good? Flacco would be a backup everywhere else. He was ok in 2023, he was ok (I guess) last year, but he hasn't been "good" in ages.
Gatorade
Footballguy
I can't see them cutting either rookie or placing one on the PS. The best thing for the Browns would be for one QB getting put on IR before the season. Flacco will probably start week one with Pickett either cut or on IR.
I'm going to get a massage tomorrow. I'll look around for Watson.
I'm going to get a massage tomorrow. I'll look around for Watson.
MAC_32
Footballguy
Almost perfect, it's just missing something out of left field week 18 like Trey Lance
3C's
Footballguy
To quote that famous wordsmith Jerry Glanville, the NFL stands for Not For Long when you're only winning 3 or 4 games.
With the Browns statements on Pickett that he was so improved and coming into his own, Pickett has to be first here.
My lack of confidence in above and thinking it's a smokescreen has me thinking Gabriel or Sheduer- only if one is clearly ahead of the other. Lebeau once explained the last thing he wanted to do was stop competition because the fear with that is it will stunt development. Lebeau's legend, I think a lot of NFL coaches know this phrase and use it too.
So if one isn't clearly above and Pickett was utter garbage talk then Flacco starts.
The preferred models are a gem starting day one or "not necessarily a gem" sitting and learning behind a veteran for a year. There is a big appeal for the youngsters to Flacco starting.
This was an FF move and I believe they expect to trade one or two. (Not McCourty the other former Patriot on Sirius) said the same and pointed out the value of a young QB in camp is so much bigger than waiting for one to be cut and added after cutdown day. Interested teams won't see so much appeal to waiting to see who is cut. That rookie joins a new team in September and may not even know their offense and perform well enough in practice to even play this year.
My lack of confidence in above and thinking it's a smokescreen has me thinking Gabriel or Sheduer- only if one is clearly ahead of the other. Lebeau once explained the last thing he wanted to do was stop competition because the fear with that is it will stunt development. Lebeau's legend, I think a lot of NFL coaches know this phrase and use it too.
So if one isn't clearly above and Pickett was utter garbage talk then Flacco starts.
The preferred models are a gem starting day one or "not necessarily a gem" sitting and learning behind a veteran for a year. There is a big appeal for the youngsters to Flacco starting.
This was an FF move and I believe they expect to trade one or two. (Not McCourty the other former Patriot on Sirius) said the same and pointed out the value of a young QB in camp is so much bigger than waiting for one to be cut and added after cutdown day. Interested teams won't see so much appeal to waiting to see who is cut. That rookie joins a new team in September and may not even know their offense and perform well enough in practice to even play this year.
I see no reason why Pickett wouldn't make the team. I'd reiterate it'd make more sense for Flacco not to make the team, but there is nothing stopping them from keeping 4 QBs, just because its not what most teams do.
I think Pickett takes too much flak for his Pittsburgh run. Matt Canada was as bad a play caller as I've seen. I have 100% confidence I'd be a better OC than he was. Pickett had arguably his best game as a Steeler the week after Canada was fired, then unfortunately the next week, he got hurt for the rest of the season. People acted like Rudolph was an upgrade, but he wasn't really, the offense was better because of Canada being gone.
I think Pickett is still salvageable and fully expect him to get 1st crack, the recent report that Mary Kay Cabot had only re-enforces that. One major thing Pickett does much better than Flacco is not turn the ball over. This is a team that wants to run the ball and play defense (based on all their other personnel moves) and their decision not to stick with Winston to me, speaks to how much they care about turnovers. Of some note, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel were the 2 best QBs in college football last year at taking care of the football.
TheDirtyWord
Footballguy
I had originally voted Flacco, but the more I thought about it, I actually think Pickett makes the most sense.
With 4 QB's...you simply start cycling thru and if you waive Flacco, are the chances at least decent that he's on the couch if there's a scenario where you need to bring him back?
With 4 QB's...you simply start cycling thru and if you waive Flacco, are the chances at least decent that he's on the couch if there's a scenario where you need to bring him back?
MAC_32
Footballguy
Gabriel might, which makes the pick all the more frustrating.
Way I see it for week one the starting QB is winner of Pickett vs Flacco and if no QB gets hurt or they can't stash one on IR the loser of that battle will get cut.
My money is on Flacco to start week one but if the over under was 2.5 on how many QB's will start for the Browns next year I'd take the over.
When Myles Garrett signed his extension after his trade request and said he had a good idea who the Browns would get to address the QB issue I feel like this is not what he had in mind.
My money is on Flacco to start week one but if the over under was 2.5 on how many QB's will start for the Browns next year I'd take the over.
When Myles Garrett signed his extension after his trade request and said he had a good idea who the Browns would get to address the QB issue I feel like this is not what he had in mind.
Just saw this after I posted above. I'd agree except I don't think they carry all 4 on the opening day roster and if they try to put one on practice squad they likely get claimed. So I'm thinking they cut one if IR is not an option.
Mason Rudolph is undeniably a better quarterback than Kenny Pickett, and it's not even close. The idea that Pickett takes too much flak for his Pittsburgh tenure ignores the reality that he simply didn't perform at an NFL level. He wasn't just held back by Matt Canada's play callin he showed consistent flaws in his game regardless of the scheme. Even after Canada was fired, Pickett had one solid game, but his overall body of work was uninspiring. Meanwhile, Rudolph stepped in and immediately ran the offense with decisiveness and efficiency, something Pickett struggled to do for two seasons.
Pickett's biggest flaw isn't just his lack of production it's his lack of competitiveness. The Steelers practically handed him the starting job over Mitch Trubisky, yet he never played like a guy who was fighting to prove himself. He routinely played scared, avoiding risks to the point that the offense became stagnant. And when adversity hit, he didn’t rise to the occasion he folded. Contrast that with Rudolph, who waited patiently for his opportunity, stepped in under pressure, and actually delivered. The offense didn’t improve just because Canada was gone it improved because Rudolph played with more command and confidence than Pickett ever did.
And about turnovers sure, Pickett avoids them, but that’s because he refuses to take shots down the field. He plays it safe to the point where it hinders the offense. Meanwhile, Rudolph found a balance, protecting the football while still making plays. The Browns choosing Pickett over Winston isn’t proof that they value ball security it just shows how desperate they are at QB.
Pickett is salvageable? Maybe in a backup role. But the idea that he deserves another first crack is laughable. He had his chance multiple chances, actually and he proved he isn’t the guy. Rudolph stepped in with fewer opportunities and instantly looked better. That says everything you need to know.
One last comment Pickett literally asked to be traded because he didn't want to compete with Russell Wilson. That alone tells you everything about his mindset. Instead of embracing competition and trying to prove himself, he ran from it. Then he landed in Philadelphia, where he had zero chance of beating out Jalen Hurts, and even Tanner McKee who initially barely saw the field was looking better than him in practice reps then in games. If Pickett was truly a starting-caliber quarterback, he'd be fighting for a role, not running away from competition and settling into a backup job before he's even been challenged for it. That speaks volumes.
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