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Cleveland Browns players have reportedly settled on which quarterback they want to start in Week 1 as Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett continue to battle it out for the QB1 job.
The Browns brought back Joe Flacco on a one-year deal in free agency and acquired Kenny Pickett via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. At the 2025 NFL Draft, they used third and fifth-round picks on Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, respectively.
According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, multiple Browns veteran players “support” Flacco as the starting quarterback, including All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.
In a previous appearance on 92.3 The Fan, Cabot said she thinks it’s between Pickett and Joe Flacco for the starting job. Cabot believes Flacco’s familiarity with Kevin Stefanski’s offense gives him “the head start”.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: #Browns QB Joe Flacco reportedly has the support of Myles Garrett and other veterans who want him to be the week-one starter, per @MaryKayCabot
The Browns thought Kenny Pickett could take the starting job and have an arc similar to Sam Darnold, but Flacco has… pic.twitter.com/7rbM49RWnv
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) July 5, 2025
Sanders was widely expected to be a top-10 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he fell to the Browns in round five at No. 144 overall. As much as Sanders’ fans want to see him behind center, it appears that he’ll have to wait patiently for his chance to shine.
Joe Flacco was out of football for most of 2023 before the Browns signed him late in the season. The longtime Baltimore Ravens starter enjoyed a career revival in Cleveland, winning four of five starts and guiding the club to a surprise playoff appearance en route to Comeback Player of the Year honors.
It was a surprise when Cleveland let Flacco walk to free agency. He struggled with the Indianapolis Colts after briefly replacing Anthony Richardson as the starting QB, so a reunion with the Browns made the most sense for both parties.
Also Read: Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Reportedly Facing A Serious Suspension
