CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns are contemplating something that would raise eyebrows around the NFL: keeping all four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster throughout the 2025 season. While teams occasionally carry three signal-callers, maintaining four for an extended period is practically unheard of in today’s specialized NFL.
“I think that they are prepared to keep all four quarterbacks for either much or all of the season,” Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot explained on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast. “And one of the reasons they can do that is because their cap charges in that quarterback room, aside from Deshaun Watson, add up to just a little bit over $7.6 million. That’s nothing at all.”
This financial flexibility creates a unique opportunity for the Browns. With Watson’s massive contract already on the books, the combined cost of veterans Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders remains remarkably affordable. This cost structure is essentially what most teams pay for a single high-quality backup.
“Yes, I’m thinking that they would have all four on the 53,” Cabot confirmed. “And it sounds crazy, but when you really think about it, it’s the most important position on the football team.”
The strategy serves multiple purposes beyond just depth insurance. First, it allows Cleveland to thoroughly evaluate both veteran options. Flacco provided a spark in 2023 during Watson’s absence, while Pickett — a former first-round pick — offers untapped potential and youth. Meanwhile, the rookie pair represents lottery tickets with different appeal: Gabriel’s production at Oregon, Oklahoma and UCF versus Sanders’ talent and pedigree.
This approach also creates potential trade leverage. With quarterback injuries inevitable across the league, having developed assets could prove valuable. As Cabot noted, “What if a quarterback goes down in the NFL on October 26th and somebody is willing to give you a really nice draft pick?”
The Browns’ quarterback strategy also acknowledges their uncertain future at the position. With Watson’s inconsistent availability and performance, plus a potentially strong quarterback class in the 2026 draft, Cleveland is positioning themselves for multiple scenarios.
The training camp battle will be fascinating to monitor, particularly during joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles in August. “I think that they do believe that they’ve got some developmental guys, including Kenny Pickett, and they’re ready to see what they have,” said Cabot. “And if they end up with this surplus of quarterbacks, then you can find yourself trading one, even Kenny.”
However, this four-quarterback approach doesn’t come without challenges. Practice reps are precious, especially for developing players. “There is a part of me that wonders, is doing this four-man competition almost going to be bad for these guys instead of just like having the reps there for the young guy that needs it?” asked podcast host Dan Labbe.
This quarterback logjam will begin sorting itself out during training camp, with the Eagles joint practices serving as a likely inflection point. “By the time we get home from Philadelphia, I think they have to know who their starting quarterback is,” Cabot concluded.
The Browns’ willingness to consider such an unconventional approach speaks volumes about both their short and long-term thinking at the sport’s most important position. Want to hear more about Cleveland’s quarterback situation and how it might unfold? Listen to the full episode of Orange and Brown Talk for deeper insights into the Browns’ four-quarterback puzzle.
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