After a long run with no luck at the QB position, the 2025 season is turning out to be quite a new situation for the Cleveland Browns. Seemingly, HC Kevin Stefanski did more than just a good job of filling up the QB room, only, it is now spilling at the seams. The aim? To be the one true difference maker for the Browns. The competition? Third-year Kenny Pickett, former QB1 DeShaun Watson (not playing this season), second stint of Joe Flacco, and two rookies in Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. We already saw Shedeur re-build his name from the ashes of being selected in the fifth round with his minicamp performance. Now, things are getting interesting in the OTAs.

Certainly, he was the talk of the sessions, owing to his last name. But turns out he is more than willing to make an identity out of his first and prove all those who, “Never saw Shedeur as the first-round pick” absolutely wrong. In Wednesday’s practice, the rookie seemingly had the best showcase over his peers– 7 of 9 completions for 3 TDs. While Stefanski, “Told the players, ‘Don’t pay attention to where you are in line,’” the competition is only getting fiery. But even off the gridiron, things are interesting in Cleveland.

You walk into the Browns’ QB room, and it’s like watching two timelines collide. On one side, Joe Flacco—40, calm, has-seen-it-all energy. On the other hand, Shedeur Sanders, 23, sharp, and soaking up every second like a sponge. And turns out the rookie is going about things correctly as the veteran star has nothing but praises for him.

During the Browns’ OTAs at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea, Ohio, Flacco discussed Shedeur Sanders. “Shedeur’s been great. He’s a lot of fun to be around in those meeting rooms. And I think once I think so far, there’s been you know, at least once in the meeting room that he’s made me crack a smile and that’s what it’s all about, you know. He’s a young guy trying to learn some football and come out here and practice well and do those things and like I said, he’s been a lot of fun,” Flacco said. And just after that, he mentioned a funny take on how his paths just might’ve crossed with the rookie’s father, Deion Sanders.

“You know, listen, I probably wasn’t too far away from playing against his (Shedeur’s) dad, and now I’m playing with him.” Classic tale. But the “wasn’t too far away” part is the key phrase here.

The quarterback made his NFL debut with the Baltimore Ravens back in 2008, three years after Coach Prime had already wrapped up his brief stint with the Baltimore team and hung up his cleats. After spending most of his career and winning a Super Bowl with the Ravens, Flacco had a trip to New York, Philly, and Indianapolis, before finally landing in Cleveland for the second time after leading the Browns to the playoffs a couple of years back. While Flacco playing with or against Prime Time did not come true, Stefanski got him closer to another Sanders this year, drafting Shedeur in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft with the 144th overall pick. And he too has praises for the 17-year vet.

Shedeur’s been candid about his admiration for Flacco, stating, “It’s funny seeing him (Flacco) because everyone is like, ‘Wow, I’m with Joe Flacco right now.’ Like we’re on the same team! So that’s cool.” But we’ll see if the guy gets a chance to start in his rookie season, with Flacco seeming to be the QB1.

Shedeur Sanders in the Browns QB competition

With Flacco along with Pickett, and Gabriel on the roster, Shedeur will have to compete against ’em to make his way through. So far, the two OTAs and them minicamp will get the HC and the team all the idea they need for the QB and by the end of July, we might get his name higher up in the standing over the other QBs as he did on Wednesday.

The competition in other rookie QB on the squad, Gabriel, went for 11 of 16 passes for 2 TDs and an interception. Contrastingly, the veteran Flacco, who everyone thought would pick up the primary signal calling duties after Watson was sidelined, had 1 TD in 9 of 14 completions. Kenny, the other veteran, is trying his best with 9 of 16 completions and no TDs.

As for Joe Flacco and Shedeur Sanders, who can be the picks for the Browns this season at first and second QB position, you can bet that they are already getting along ahead of the 2025 season. The former Colorado quarterback has already given his verdict on playing alongside the 40-year-old QB. Now, all eyes are on Flacco, who’s going to help the rookie QB develop to be a franchise QB.

Well, after all the chaos the Browns dealt in their quarterback room since Watson’s Achilles injury in Week 7 last season, Stefanski’s other two options, Dorian Thompson-Robinson nor Jameis Winston, also could not leave a mark. But now, it finally feels like they’ve got some stability. The QBs are getting along. Flacco’s expected to lead the charge for now, cool and steady as ever. Still, don’t count Kenny out—he’s quietly confident, thinking his shot to start might come sooner than folks expect.

And yeah, with Sanders and Gabriel in the mix, this might be the Browns’ year.