CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the Cleveland Browns prepare to evaluate four quarterbacks during spring practices, the coaching staff will be looking far beyond completed passes and highlight-reel throws. The criteria for narrowing down this crowded quarterback room involves subtle elements that often escape the casual observer’s attention.
Mary Kay Cabot, who covers the team, detailed what coaches will be watching most closely during OTAs and minicamp: “I think what you want to see them doing in OTAs when they’re in their 11-on-11s, I think you want to see how they’re handling the pre-snap stuff. How are they in the huddle, how are they managing the motions, calling the protections and getting everyone lined up?”
This pre-snap operation becomes critical considering the Browns open against two division rivals before facing a brutal stretch of road games. There’s no time for confusion or miscommunication when the season begins.
“You can’t be bumbling around in the beginning of the season when you’re going to be playing the Ravens and you’re going to be playing the Bengals and then you’re playing three good NFC North defenses,” Cabot emphasized.
Perhaps even more important than pre-snap command is ball security, a glaring weakness from the 2023 campaign.
“Clean football is what they need to play this year,” Cabot said. “I’ve said this a number of times. If you just cut your giveaways in half, you’re winning three more games right there. You’re at six victories if you just cut down drastically on your giveaways.”
While Joe Flacco brings 17 years of NFL experience and Kenny Pickett has NFL starting experience, rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders face steeper learning curves. Their college backgrounds, however, might provide advantages in different areas.
“You’ve got Dillon Gabriel who is very smooth and efficient and I thought he was that way with the pre-snap stuff. Even in rookie camp, he just had an unbelievable command of that kind of stuff,” Cabot noted.
Sanders brings a unique background having worked with NFL coach Pat Shurmur as his offensive coordinator in college. Dan Labbe pointed out this connection to Kevin Stefanski’s system: “Of all these quarterbacks, he might kind of fit the Kevin Stefanski style of offense the best... because of working with Pat Shurmur, you know, an NFL coach, a guy who Kevin Stefanski came up under.”
What fans won’t see during the limited open practices is how each quarterback performs in meeting rooms and classroom settings — a critical evaluation area. As Labbe explained, “Who’s going to excel when... they’re in that meeting room and they’re put on the board and they’re being asked questions.”
Ashley Bastock recalled conversations with former Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson about this challenge: “He (was) very adamant, like, you don’t know until you know and until you experience it.”
The evaluation extends beyond physical traits to include mental processing, playbook absorption, and leadership qualities. A quarterback might look spectacular on the practice field but struggle to translate that performance when faced with real-game situations.
As the Browns work to identify their best options before training camp, they’ll be seeking quarterbacks who demonstrate both physical ability and the mental acumen to navigate NFL defenses — knowing that “clean football” could transform this team from a six-win disappointment to a legitimate playoff contender.
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