A veteran, or a rookie?
One of the biggest talking points this off-season is what will happen at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
With big-money flop Deshaun Watson expected to be out for the 2025 season, the Browns went looking for their next starter.
The Browns decided to bring in Kenny Pickett from the Eagles and Joe Flacco who played for the Colts in 2024. Both guys are on one-year contracts for minimal money. Despite bringing both guys in, the Browns then went and drafted two more quarterbacks.
Dillon Gabriel was drafted in the third round from Oregon, and then Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was picked up in round five.
Both guys will be beginning their rookie contracts and will need time to be good enough to start.
So far, the reports this offseason have indicated that Flacco or Pickett will be first choice. Both guys have been given first team reps in training camp while the rookies have been with the second string.
It feels unlikely that the Browns will still have all four quarterbacks once the season starts. Both Flacco and Pickett are on cheap deals, and they can be easily cut.
For one of the rookies to be cut would mean that they had an awful training camp.
Currently the bookies have got Joe Flacco at 10/11 favourite to start on Week 1. Kenny Pickett is 9/4, Shedeur Sanders at 4/1 and Dillon Gabriel at 10/1.
Final thoughts
Both rookies will be on the team when the season starts. However, neither are likely to be in position to take the starting job.
Also, it is standard practice in the NFL that the veteran gets to start first, and the rookie must overcome them in training.
Given the performances of Flacco and Pickett over the last few years, it would be surprising if Flacco did not start.
The price of 10/11 is short, but it is the most likely outcome. That does not mean that he will be the starter at the end of the season though!
What did you say?
We asked you over @JoinTheHuddleUK who you thought would be starting in Week 1 – and here is what you voted.
For more opportunities to have your say, follow us on X and other social media platforms @JoinTheHuddleUK.
