The Browns wrapped up their 2025 season on Sunday with a 20-18 victory over the rival Bengals. Over the next few months, I will be taking a look at each position group on the Browns. The next few months, the NFL combine, college pro days, free agency, and the draft will take place. While a losing season usually brings about significant roster turnover, there were some bright spots during the Browns’ 5-12 campaign.
The Browns began training camp this year with four quarterbacks on the roster. Kenny Pickett was acquired in March in a trade for Dorian-Thompson Robinson and a fifth-round pick. Pickett struggled with a hamstring injury and didn’t practice much during camp. He was ultimately traded to the Raiders just before the cutdown. Tyler Huntley also spent a few weeks with the Browns in training camp before being released during final cuts.
Joe Flacco was signed shortly after the Browns traded for Pickett. Flacco helped the Browns make the playoffs in 2023 after helping them rip off four straight wins late in the season. He was signed to be the Browns’ starter and be a veteran mentor to the Browns’ rookie quarterbacks. Flacco was unable to recapture the magic of 2023, struggling through four mostly dismal starts. He did lead the Browns to a last-minute victory over the Packers in week three. He was subsequently benched after a blowout loss to the Lions in week four. The week after, he was traded south to Cincinnati to fill in for an injured Joe Burrow.
Dylan Gabriel was the next man up for the Browns. The 3rd round pick from Oregon went on to start the next six games, with middling success. The Browns only won one of Gabriel’s starts, a 31-6 win over the Dolphins. He had the best interception ratio and quarterback rating of all of the Browns quarterbacks who started in 2025. He threw seven touchdowns and only two interceptions, to go along with an 80.8 quarterback rating. Gabriel struggled to push the ball down the field, though, throwing for over 200 yards only once. He suffered a concussion towards the end of the week 11 game against the Ravens and never saw significant action the rest of the season.
Shedeur Sanders, who began the season fourth on the depth chart, was finally given the chance to start after Gabriel’s injury. The rookie fifth-round pick from Colorado started the Browns’ final seven games. He threw for 1,400 yards to go along with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sanders started three of the Browns’ five wins this season. My main concern with Sanders is his propensity to hold onto the ball too long. He ranked dead last in time to throw per the NFL Next Gen Stats. Playing behind a patchwork offensive line and holding onto the ball too long is certainly not a recipe for success. He was also sacked 23 times in seven games. Projecting that over a 17-game season would work out to 55 sacks, which would have tied for the league lead this year. If Sanders can cut down on his time to throw and be provided with a more competent pass-catching group (more on this when we review receivers and tight ends), he could become a serviceable option for the Browns.
While Gabriel and Sanders showed flashes of quality play, I still believe the Browns will, at the minimum, bring in competition next year. They still have Deshaun Watson on the roster, and his massive 80.7 million dollar cap hit. A lot of what happens at the quarterback position for the Browns between now and training camp will ultimately depend upon who they hire as a coach and what that coach wants in his quarterback.
In what is considered a weak quarterback draft outside of Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore, the Browns could pivot to free agency or trades. The free agent market is somewhat weak as well, outside of aging starters like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson or retreads like Trey Lance and Zach Wilson. Packers backup Malik Willis is an intriguing candidate who hasn’t played much over the last few years. He has played very well in limited time, and could be a great option for a run-based offense. There are also quarterbacks who could be traded this offseason (looking at you, Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray), but the Browns’ cap situation may preclude them from trading for a quarterback.
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