Insider reveals what Browns are saying about four-way quarterback competition

The Cleveland Browns holding a four-way quarterback competition involving 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel, 2025 fifth-round selection Shedeur Sanders, 2022 first-round choice Kenny Pickett and veteran Joe Flacco could be one of the more interesting NFL-related stories of the summer. 

During a Sunday appearance on "SportsCenter," ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler revealed what he learned about that quarterback battle during Cleveland's rookie minicamp this past weekend. 

"Dillon Gabriel, the third-round pick, is still taking some of those first-team reps. I guess you could call them first-team," Fowler explained, as shared by Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report. "So now they're working that out. And Shedeur's been really as advertised. He's come in, he's shown he can be accurate and can process information, so that's the good side. But as somebody with the Browns told me, this is going to be a long road. They got the next four months to work with all four quarterbacks, get them in (organized team activities), see what they can handle against some real 11-man defense."

Numerous members of the NFL community have said since the final Saturday of April that they understand why Browns general manager Andrew Berry took a flier on Sanders in the draft's fifth round after the polarizing prospect allegedly bombed the predraft process. That said, Berry has received criticism for grabbing Gabriel at pick No. 94 after analysts projected the signal-caller would be a third-day selection. 

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. had Sanders ranked as the best quarterback available in this year's draft. The Athletic's Dane Brugler listed Sanders as the draft's QB2. 

During the latest edition of the "Best Podcast Available," Gabriel spoke openly about possibly competing with Sanders for a spot on Cleveland's active roster. 

"It's my new challenge, but it's also refreshing," Gabriel said, per Bleacher Report's Taylyn Hadley. "It's a new opportunity, one I look forward to. There's a bunch of guys in this room. You can learn from anyone. I look forward to doing so, but you know, my competition is myself yesterday. How can I be better, you know, every single day? As long as I keep that focus and try to continue to do that, I should be just fine."

Logic suggests the Browns will make either Flacco or Pickett available to other teams before Week 1 arrives, if only so Cleveland can continue developing a pair of first-year pros through the 2025 season. One wonders if the New Orleans Saints could have any interest in Flacco or Pickett following the retirement of Derek Carr. Then again, first-year head coach Kellen Moore could decide by the end of the preseason that rookie Tyler Shough will be ready to face live defenses in meaningful games this coming September.