No one arguably has had more bad luck when it comes to the quarterbacks than the Cleveland Browns. Since their reinstatement in 1999, their QB room has seen 40 different starting signal callers. And then, the 2024 season became a definitive lesson. After DeShaun Watson tore his Achilles in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, neither Dorian Thompson-Robinson nor Jameis Winston could really leave a mark, turning the season into a complete nightmare under center. Fast forward to the 2025 offseason, HC Kevin Stefanski knew his assignment– Don’t just tread water with some average QB play but find a true difference maker. But as it turns out, they didn’t just find one or two, they found five. 

The Browns first traded Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick to acquire Kenny Pickett, who brings four years of experience. With Watson on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, his return this season is likely a big no. They then sent Watson to the Giants and re-signed Joe Flacco. With the 94th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Drafts, the Browns brought in Dillon Gabriel to add to their intriguing QB room. Then, surprising everyone, they also welcomed Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round. And what Kevin now has is a huge dilemma– Two vets in Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Two rookies in Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. And the question: What would the lineup look like?

Many have already named Joe as the best QB1 option entering week 1. Some are betting on Pickett too. But as the optimistic HC mentioned recently, “We have some young guys on the roster, older guys on the roster, and they’re all going to compete.” However, with four potential QBs taking turns, how will he even give them all enough reps to study their work? On top of that, Kevin and the Browns just got an ultimatum.

Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Albert Breer shed some light on where things might be headed for the Browns. When guest host Suzy Shuster asked him, “How does this all sort out in Cleveland with all the quarterbacks?” Breer has certainly thought about that sticky situation for Kevin.

“I would say over the next five weeks they’ve got to get a good read on what’s going to happen in training camp. Normally, most teams will tell you like the stuff in Spring minicamp is about education, getting the players up to speed, what they’re gonna have to do, installing systems and all that different stuff. Then the Summer is about competition. But where they are right now, Suzy, I think they have to at least get a read on where they’re gonna be come the end of July. So, what that does mean?

“Well that means you’ve got two veteran quarterbacks, is there a gap between Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett? You have two rookie quarterbacks, is there a gap between Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel? Do either Gabriel or Sanders look like, forget about starting, do either of them look like they’re gonna be prepared enough to be a backup that where maybe you save the roster spot by cutting one of the veterans at the end of the training camp? I think you have to start to ask all those questions now rather than at the end of July.”

I just don’t think there’s enough reps to go around when you get in the summer based on the rules the way they are now and the fact that there’s going to be 10 other guys in that huddle that you have to get ready to play a season. Running like this quarterback derby with four different guys and not knowing who you’re gonna have back there, that doesn’t do service to the other 10 guys in the huddle that have to go out there in September, October, November and perform at the highest level they can.”

Flacco, who has been in the NFL for 18 seasons now, does bring some promise. In fact, he was probably brought in to play at the primary position. He proved himself back in 2023 with the team. But he is also turnover-prone. As for Pickett who is still quite young, he needs to show that he truly belongs in the primary or even as a backup given that his years in the league have not been that impressive. Gabriel pulled up into the early rounds of the draft with his pre-draft actions that were more than impressive. But when you talk about his work, it’s no hard to see that Sanders comes out ahead.

Shedeur Sanders, who’s probably looking to get a shot at the starting QB role after his draft slide, might want to buckle up. Because the way the Browns are evaluating their QB room, letting all four compete, he better stand out. And with Breer also suggesting that Kevin just might let a veteran out before the roster cutdown date on August 27, the urgency is certainly high.

And that brings us to the next layer of this crowded QB situation. What happens once the Browns do figure out their pecking order?

Making room: Browns’ QB dilemma

Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel’s competition to be the starting QB kicked off on the very first day of rookie minicamp. “Both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders looked really good in three days of practice. They both made some really good throws,” Browns announcer Andrew Siciliano said. But the truth is, only one of them can be the starting QB, that too, when it happens.

Another truth is that the team might have to let go of one quarterback. Franchises rarely go into the regular season with four QBs on their 53-man roster. For now, the Browns’ front office has denied any plans to trade any of their quarterbacks. And they will be holding two passing practice sessions during their team activities and minicamp. But NFL insider for Cleveland.com, Mary Kay Cabot, thinks that might not be true for long. Cabot recently covered the Browns’ rookie minicamp and their QB competition situation.

According to Mary, “The Browns have no plans to trade any of their quarterbacks at this point. They’re intent on conducting this four-way quarterback competition and having the QBs bring out the best in each other. By roster cutdown day on Aug. 27, they will be prepared to part with at least one of the quarterbacks. Which one will be determined by the competition, and how their depth chart order shakes out,” Cabot reported.

So, once Stefanski and the coaching staff figure out their starting QB, backup, and emergency QB, they might trade the one left out. The Browns’ front office will most likely choose to trade the fourth QB. So, who’s going to be the odd one out in the Cleveland QB room? Well, we’ll most likely get an answer to that by August.