The Cleveland Browns are going into the 2025 season with question-marks surrounding their quarterback position. While many believe Joe Flacco is QB1, there will certainly be moments where the two rookie quarterbacks in Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel give the organization something to think about.
However, Flacco was very clear about one point.
“Have Never Done That” Browns’ Joe Flacco Calls Out Shedeur Sanders And Rest Of QBs
Despite finishing last season with a dismal 3-14 record, the struggling franchise turned some heads at the 2025 NFL Draft:
While defensive tackle Mason Graham was their first selection, and the fifth overall pick, what Cleveland did later on caught attention.
The Browns selected QB Dillon Gabriel in the third round, and rounded off their draft by ending Shedeur Sanders’ all-time slide in the fifth.
By bringing in two rookie signal callers, the team now has one of the most crowded quarterback rooms in the NFL.
They join veteran Joe Flacco, and recent arrival Kenny Pickett, to battle it out for a roster spot.
Deshaun Watson, who signed a $230million contract in 2022 that has since been labelled a massive mistake, is also still with the Browns.
An Achilles injury could keep him sidelined him for the entire season.
Therefore Flacco, who is gearing up for his second stint in Cleveland, is the presumed Week 1 starter and has been vocal about being much more than just a mentor to the younger guys in the room.
At 40-years-old, the veteran is about to enter his 19th NFL season, and would be forgiven for taking it a little easier in these early practice sessions.
But that, apparently, isn’t the case, and Flacco has this week suggested Cleveland’s rookies are struggling to keep up with him in OTAs.
“When it got easier in like, 2011 I think, everybody that was playing at that point had been grouped two days at some point in their life,” he told reporters.
“Guys that are coming in the NFL now have never done it.
“We’re out here for an hour and 15 minutes and guys think it’s hard. You know, our OTAs were like over two hours.”
While there is a clear generation gap between Flacco and his rookies, which was further proven by a conversation between him and Sanders during drills last week, the battle to be Cleveland’s starter will come down to more than age and experience.
One NFL analyst has already suggested Shedeur’s ‘star power’ could help him land the role by Week 8 of the 2025 season, but not everyone is convinced by that idea.
In fact, head coach Kevin Stefanski has already sent a clear message to Sanders with an early decision.
For the first few days of mandatory minicamp, Stefanski chose to give first-team reps to Flacco and Pickett, while the rookies have been working with the second team.
