All eyes are on the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback room with roster cuts looming, but little change appears to be coming.
Joe Flacco has been named the Week 1 starter, and the Browns also plan to carry Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. While keeping four quarterbacks on a 53-man roster is unusual, it seems to be the path Cleveland is taking.
“It’s not much of a decision for us. All four guys have done what we’ve asked. Obviously, three of them have dealt with injuries throughout their time here,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said during an in-game interview during the team’s final preseason game. “The reality of it is, you have 53 roster spots, five are really developmental or inactive spots. Plus, post-COVID, the roster rules are so much more flexible. You can build your game day roster pretty creatively. Quarterback is the most important position in sports. We have a room where we like all the guys in there. We don’t see it as a problem, we see it as more of an opportunity.”
Flacco, Gabriel and Sanders all saw time during the team’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams. Pickett did not play and has been sidelined for most of the preseason with a hamstring injury.
Browns Confident in Rookies Sanders, Gabriel
Flacco will open the season as the Browns’ starting quarterback, but expectations are tempered on how long he’ll hold that role. At 40 years old, Flacco isn’t viewed as a long-term answer, and unless Cleveland unexpectedly emerges as a true contender, sticking with a veteran starter does little to shape the team’s future.
That’s particularly significant with the Browns holding two first-round picks in next year’s draft — valuable assets that could be used to land their next franchise quarterback.
If either of the rookies has their number called, Berry is confident that they’ll be able to produce.
“First of all, we have a lot of belief in both Dillon and Shedeur. Both of those guys have had an excellent preseason. A big part of it is that we track everything — every throw, every decision, footwork, you name it,” Berry said. “We talk about the tangible progress we see on a weekly basis. Now, nothing is a substitute for competitive game situations, whether itʻs the preseason or the regular season. With any rookie player, it’s a bit of a leap of faith. But we’ve been able to see their progress in real-time, which gives us confidence.”
Browns Yet to Unveil Official QB Depth Chart
Flacco is the starter but the Browns have yet to reveal how the depth chart will look behind him. The expectation is that Pickett — if healthy — will be the primary backup. Gabriel or Sanders could serve as an emergency quarterback, available only if Flacco and Pickett are injured.
“Not so concerned about depth chart, honestly. I really like our guys. They continue to work very hard, all of them,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “As you make decisions like this, you talk to the guys, and you let them in on your thought process. But all of them should consider themselves, get ready as a starter. That’s how you have to handle being a backup in this league.”
The Browns open the regular season on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
