The Cleveland Browns QB2 Shedeur Sanders is on the verge of a big moment. The trade of veteran Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals has cleared the path for Sanders and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel to get real playing time this season. This is a clear indication that Cleveland wants to build its offense around young players. Insiders believe the Browns aren’t aiming for a deep playoff run right now and expect Sanders to see the field soon. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo laid out the road ahead for Sanders, and that road leads under center at last.

“So I think at some point before the end of the season, and there’s still some seasoning that needs to happen and some work that’s happening behind the scenes with Shedeur Sanders. At least the Browns feel that way. He’s got to get on the field. I think that’s part of the plan. And I don’t think that they think, ‘oh, this is going to be a playoff team’ at this point, so there will be an opening even if Dillon Gabriel plays well to get Shedeur Sanders on the field to say ‘this is why we did what we did on day three of the draft.’”

Forget the revolving door that’s been Cleveland’s quarterback room for years. Now, two rookies are getting a real shot. Sanders carried high expectations, already having flashed his talent in the preseason. But the team plans to ease him in carefully. Gabriel started as the most polished rookie, but the Week 5 loss in London against the Vikings left a lot of room for improvement. The QB spot isn’t locked down yet, and the organization wants Sanders to grow with a tailored approach, not thrown in too fast.

Back in April, Shedeur Sanders had rejected the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles. The reason? He didn’t want to sit behind a veteran waiting for a chance that never comes. For a while, his Browns journey felt ironic because of that drive. But now the script has changed, and Sanders has survived the QB cuts, effectively rising from QB4 to QB2. This QB shake-up sets a new tone. With Flacco traded, the Browns are betting on youth and development. But there’s more to consider beyond just who’s under center. So what happens next for the Browns and their QB room?

Quarterback options and future sight

With Flacco heading to Cincinnati to fill in for Joe Burrow, the Browns must think about veteran options down the line. If they want a quick fix, they could get some of the veteran backups in the league right now. Russell Wilson comes to mind from the New York Giants, for one. And would a return of Jameis Winston be too far out? The Browns already have some dead cap in Winston’s name, and a return could even out the balance sheet. But there’s another veteran wildcard peeking at the QB chatter in Cleveland. Could Jimmy Haslam’s “hit and miss” make a return?

Deshaun Watson’s injury drama complicates things. He’s still on the PUP, rehabbing from his Achilles surgery. But he’s eligible for the practice window, and the Browns are decidedly keeping that window closed for now. So what’s next? Sanders and Gabriel carry the team’s hopes for 2025. Beyond that, the Browns may be prepping for a major rebuild.

With the Flacco trade, the Browns now have a total of 10 draft picks for 2026. Their first two first-round picks could give them the franchise quarterback answer at last. If Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel play well, that helps their case for the Browns’ future. If they don’t work, losing more games could just prime them for a top pick.

Is Sanders ready to lead? Can Watson come back strong? Will Gabriel hold down the fort and bring them wins? Do they need a veteran patch (again)? The Browns are juggling these in real time. The one thing that’s clear: the Browns are on the cusp of a quarterback revolution.