The Cleveland Browns made headlines when they drafted not one but two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders both have an opportunity to compete for the starting job for Cleveland, but they’re not the only options competing for the job. With the room so crowded, how much will the two rookies play in the Preseason?
Browns Analyst Addresses How Much He Believes the Rookie QBs Will Play in the Preseason
Cleveland began the offseason by trading Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Kenny Pickett. One month later, shortly before the NFL Draft, they signed veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year contract to further bolster the position.
Then, when the draft came around, the Browns drafted Gabriel in round three out of Oregon and Sanders in Round five out of Colorado. While many expected Sanders to be one of the top quarterbacks selected in this year’s NFL Draft, Gabriel was ultimately selected first.
The Browns’ starting quarterback job is wide open with Deshaun Watson out due to injury, and it is uncertain if he has played his last snap for the team. This begs the question of how often each quarterback will play in the Preseason.
“I would think that the first two games, we will see Gabriel and Sanders a lot,” said Browns & NFL analyst Tony Grossi. “I don’t even know if we’ll see Flacco and Pickett in [those] games.”
“I think in the first two games, we’re going to see Gabriel and Sanders a lot,” – @TonyGrossi on the Browns playing the rookie QBs in preseason. pic.twitter.com/3VX25Kq336
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 6, 2025
The first two games typically feature fewer starting players, so it would make sense for Cleveland to try to get the two rookies as many reps as possible, since their other two options are veterans who have done this before.
With the idea that there would be two games for those two to split reps, the team could opt for each to start one of the two games, with the other relieving them in the second half. This would allow both to play a game with more established players around them and a game against lower competition.
“I would think in the third game against the Rams, we would see the Browns legit opening game starter,” Grossi added.
After the first two games, the team will have game tape to review the two rookies and practice reps. This would give them ample information to decide if a rookie or one of their veterans has the best grasp of the offense and give the team the best opportunity to succeed in 2025.
Cleveland will have their work cut out in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions. The Baltimore Ravens won the AFC North in 2024 and have two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson under center. The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a Wild Card berth and just signed four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to play quarterback for them.
The Cincinnati Bengals are no slouches either, having finished 9-8 in 2024, with one of the most potent offenses in the NFL, spearheaded by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
The Browns’ quarterback competition figures to be one of the top storylines throughout Training Camp and the Preseason. Whoever wins the job will have to play well throughout the season because, with so many potential options, they could have a short leash as the starter.