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The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition will be one of the most talked about moving ahead into the offseason. Former NFL wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh says the top two candidates for the starting role have already been determined.
Shedeur Sanders is notably absent from that list. Houshmandzadeh called the QB1 battle unfair while breaking down the rumors he’s heard from within the organization.
Sanders made NFL Draft headlines after slipping from a first-round talent to the 144th pick. That slide reportedly cost him roughly $44 million after once being projected to go first overall.
The Browns selected Sanders with a fifth-round pick. It was considered the steal of the draft to a number of NFL analysts. He was not the only passer the franchise took, however.
Before drafting Sanders, Cleveland selected Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon. He, too, is vying for the starting role as a rookie.
Those two first-year players are currently in a four-way battle alongside veteran Joe Flacco and new addition Kenny Pickett. Deshaun Watson could soon make his own statement in the QB room, though an injury will likely sideline him for the foreseeable future.
Varying reports surfaced throughout training camp. Some believed Sanders to be the best of the bunch. Others claimed Gabriel had outplayed his rookie counterpart. Many don’t believe either can beat out the experience of Flacco and Pickett.
TJ Houshmandzadeh provided insight as to where things currently stand. From what he’s hearing, it’s a two-man race to the top.
At least not according to Houshmandzadeh. Instead, he insists that Gabriel and Pickett are leading the charge. Here’s what he had to say during an appearance on the Nightcap podcast.
“I don’t know how this is a fair competition,” he said. “Because I was told by somebody that’s in the building, that ain’t a player, it’s really coming down to Kenny Pickett or Dillon Gabriel.” He would not provide detail as to who his source was. Only that it was not a current player on the roster.
Houshmandzadeh played nine seasons in the AFC North, eight of which came with the Bengals and another with the Ravens. He could very well have connections in the Browns organization.
How much legitimacy there is in the insinuation, however, in unclear at this point. The claim may hold some weight given a recent prediction from Browns wide receiver Diontae Johnson.
Johnson, who was added this past offseason, believes the team will “roll with Kenny [Pickett] for right now.” Johnson also happened to be Pickett’s top target in Pittsburgh.
All signs, thus far, point to someone other than Shedeur Sanders getting the keys to the offense in the season opener. How far down the depth chart he falls remains to be seen.
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