One of the most compelling storylines in the NFL this offseason has been and will continue to be the Cleveland Browns quarterback battle. With Deshaun Watson out for the entire 2025 season due to a torn Achilles, Cleveland does not have a clear-cut starter on their roster. Instead, they have brought in four quarterbacks who were not on their roster last season to compete for the job.
Joe Flacco, of course, played for the Browns before, but spent the 2024 season with the Indianapolis Colts. Cleveland also signed former Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett, who is a former first round pick.
Additionally, the Browns used two of their picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on quarterbacks, selecting Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth.
Shedeur Sanders Sliding to the Cleveland Browns in the Fifth Round Was the Talk of the 2025 NFL Draft
At one point, Sanders was considered to be a top-five pick among NFL Draft prospects. It was no surprise, though, when Cam Ward was taken first overall as the Tennessee Titans had made it known prior that they were planning on taking him.
After Ward, many believed that Sanders would be the next quarterback taken, especially when the New York Giants went on the clock with the fifth overall pick. Instead, though, the Giants selected Abdul Carter to boost their defense.
And when New York traded back into the first round, they took Jaxson Dart instead of Sanders.
Day Two, which was comprised of rounds two and three, saw multiple quarterbacks taken, including Gabriel by the Browns. But Sanders remained undrafted.
Finally, on the last day of draft, Cleveland used their last pick, a fifth round selection, on Sanders.
There Are Conflicting Reports About Shedeur Sanders Coming Out of Cleveland Browns OTA’s
Like all other NFL teams, Cleveland has begun their organized team activities (OTA’s), and all eyes are on the quarterback position, and on Sanders specifically. However, it certainly seems as if fans will have to wait to see for themselves how well he plays because there are conflicting reports about how he looks coming out of camp.
Mary Kay Cabot recently told the “Rich Eisen Show,” “The way it played out yesterday, is the way that I thought it would, is that Shedeur right now is the fourth team quarterback. He did not take any team reps yesterday.”
But Browns color commentator Nathan Zegura recently said, “Shedeur looked good. His ball placement is elite. His ability to layer throws is elite. I think he’s got plenty of arm strength. We seen that on display certainly at camp at times. There’s something about Shedeur, I got a chance to interview him, he’s very confident, but not in a cocky way. He has a lot of belief in himself. I like him. I like the kid a lot.”
Of course, these reports could have been based on different days of practice. However, they do an excellent job of representing the controversy and intrigue surrounding the quarterback position in Cleveland. Many want to see Sanders succeed, while others are skeptical of how his game will translate to the NFL.
It is still early, and Sanders has to earn a place on the 53-man roster. Certainly, many eyes will be focused on Cleveland throughout the summer as the team tries to figure out which quarterback gives them the best chance to win in 2025.
