Quarterback Battle in Cleveland: Who’s Leading the Pack?
With all eyes on the once-hyped but now fallen fifth-round draft pick Shedeur Sanders, the question remains: Who is Quarterbacking in Cleveland? The Browns find themselves in one of the most complicated QB rooms ever seen, consisting of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders all fighting for the starting quarterback spot in the upcoming NFL season. All four of these players are entering the season with high hopes and something to prove. With OTAs just beginning, this remains one of the top stories around the league, leaving teams wondering who they might have to prepare for when taking on the Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland has formed a committee of four competent quarterbacks, all fighting for the starting spot in a franchise that has seen their fair share of QBs washing out in their system. Deshaun Watson would be included with these players had he not suffered an Achilles injury last season. He currently remains on the roster, likely to be placed on the PUP list. At the age of 40, Joe Flacco has proven he still has what it takes to perform as a winning quarterback, recording 716 yards, seven touchdowns, and only one interception over a three-game stint with the Indianapolis Colts last season. Pickett, amid his tough road in his first couple of years in the league, has shown to be a serviceable quarterback on contending teams as the replacement for Jalen Hurts in his multi-game absence last season. However, trade rumors surrounding Pickett are ramping up, hinting that this battle of quarterbacks might soon have a shorter list of participants. Dillon Gabriel presented his accuracy and dual-threat capabilities at Oregon and is hoping to make a big push and secure the starting quarterback position in Cleveland.
The Browns see this battle as a win-win regarding Shedeur Sanders and the role he plays with the team. After falling from a top-five projection to the fifth round, Sanders is constantly picked apart by social media and the fanbase, however, the young prospect is determined to keep the “underdog” mindset and prove his worth. Sanders showed out at Wednesday’s practice, completing seven of nine passes, and recording three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Nonetheless, with all of the drama surrounding him, it could be seen by the team and the coaching staff as a distraction, ultimately shutting down any hopes of winning the starting quarterback spot.
Cleveland hasn’t made it clear which direction they will head into to start the season. However, the names to look out for are Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel and don’t look past Joe Flacco. Sanders has shined on the field to start OTAs, and he, along with Gabriel, has received praise for their on-field play. Many experts predict that they will battle it out for the starting spot. Flacco seems to be frustrated with his potential ‘mentor’ role, as he feels he could be a serviceable quarterback to win now. On the other hand, Cleveland continues to make decisions that hint that Flacco’s time as a starter may be coming to an end.
