The Cleveland Browns know that more eyes than normal will be on their quarterback position this year. Drafting Dillon Gabriel and Sheduer Sanders in the first five rounds when you already have Joe Flacco and DeShaun Watson on your roster was an interesting choice.
However, their first depth chart is confusing fans even more.
“What Are They Doing?” Browns Fans Irate With First Quarterback Depth Chart Of 2025 Season
Shedeur Sanders’ fans will not be happy with the Cleveland Browns’ first depth chart, which was released before the first pre-season game:
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Browns have released their first depth chart ahead of Friday’s first preseason contest against the Carolina Panthers. Veteran Joe Flacco is listed as the top quarterback, with Kenny Pickett in the No. 2 spot.
Dillon Gabriel is third on the depth chart, and fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders is surprisingly occupying the No. 4 spot:
On the Browns’ first depth chart of the season, they list their QBs in this order:
- 1. Joe Flacco
- 2. Kenny Pickett
- 3. Dillon Gabriel
- 4. Shedeur Sanders
A lot can change between now and the start of the regular season, but this is already a strong indicator that the Browns don’t realistically view Shedeur Sanders as an option to start their Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Interestingly, the Browns also signed former Pro Bowl quarterback Tyler Huntley on Monday evening. Huntley is now the sixth quarterback on Cleveland’s roster, with veteran Deshaun Watson likely to miss all of 2025 recovering from a re-ruptured Achilles tear.
Sanders was the consensus No. 2 quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft behind Miami’s Cam Ward, who went first overall to the Tennessee Titans. But in one of the most stunning draft falls in recent memory, Sanders fell all the way down to the Browns in round five at No. 144 overall.
Flacco’s familiarity in Cleveland’s offense (he won Comeback Player of the Year honors here in 2023) and Pickett’s experience and upside (a former 2022 first-round pick) meant it would always be hard for Sanders to win the QB1 job.
Even if Sanders opens the season as a backup, he just has to wait patiently for his opportunity to shine. Flacco is a 40-year-old journeyman, and Pickett is on his third team in as many years for a reason. Odds are that Sanders will eventually get meaningful playing time in year one.
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