After it was announced that rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel had officially been named the Browns’ starting quarterback, there were a lot of questions about why fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders wasn’t moving up the depth chart, as well. With only two healthy quarterbacks on the roster, though, head coach Kevin O’Connell told the media today that Sanders would be the primary backup. 
We covered the reason that Sanders hadn’t been named QB2 when team’s initial starter Joe Flacco was demoted. Essentially, Cleveland didn’t want Sanders’ introduction to the NFL to be him running an offensive gameplan designed for a shorter, shiftier, left-handed quarterback in a desperation setting. Not wanting to see Sanders struggle early, the Browns resolved to keep him off the field unless he was ready to run a gameplan designed around his capabilities.
This thought process led the team to keep Flacco ahead of Sanders on the depth chart, thinking that Flacco’s leadership and experience would make him more well-suited to the uncomfortable situation of running an unfamiliar offensive gameplan than Sanders. But then, a surprise trade removed Flacco as an option as he made his way southwest to Cincinnati.
Even with Flacco out of the picture, though, the Browns weren’t quite ready to commit to naming Sanders the primary backup behind Gabriel, likely for the same reason as previously mentioned. The primary Browns starter, Deshaun Watson, remains on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, where he’s likely to remain as he recovers from multiple tears to his Achilles tendon, but there was one other option.
Practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe was the other name in consideration for the QB2 role. Zappe started eight games over his first two years in the league with the Patriots and even got a start in Cleveland last year. While he may not give the Browns a better chance at winning than Sanders, his use as a backup would protect Sanders from having to run Gabriel’s offense in his first NFL snaps.
Ultimately, Sanders got the job. It’s hard to say whether it was Sanders who advocated to play regardless of the offensive gameplan or if the coaches resolved finally to just put their best arms on the field. Regardless, the first man off the bench behind Gabriel will be his draft classmate taken two rounds later.
Gabriel shouldn’t have to worry about his own job, though. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Gabriel is expected to get a pretty “lengthy run” as the starter. Even with a Sanders rising in the ranks behind him, Gabriel should have a fairly long lead with which he can find his sea legs. Sanders may get a run of his own down the line, but for now, he’ll be available off the sideline in case of injury.