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Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
I'm going to try something a little different today, since there are no particularly noteworthy articles from a football perspective today. There's a lot of Stadium-oriented stuff, but yesterday's comment feed suggests that many folks are tired of hearing about the chicanery there. And I'm tired of writing about it.
I prefer to dive into a series of questions that Fred and I discussed last night on OBR Weekly, which I consider to be the most significant questions about the Browns heading into Training Camp.
QUESTION 1: What Will Emerge from the Quarterback Battle?
The Browns' four-way quarterback rodeo is driving a lot of interest in the team, as they attempt to resolve the 25-year saga of finding a franchise quarterback. There have been near-misses along the way, but the Browns have never been able to sustain success behind any particular signal-caller.
There will be heated debates, a lot of sports radio chatter, and absurdities like charting quarterback completion rates in situations where they can't be sacked. There will be a daily barrage of narratives, overreactions, and just plain silliness as the Browns weave their way towards what may be a three-or-four-man quarterback room in 2025.
Along the way, we'll be looking to see how reps are being split, who gets what opportunities during preseason, and more. The Browns appear to think that Joe Flacco, who famously "got up off the couch" in 2023 to lead the team on a magical journey to a quick playoff exit, probably doesn't need a lot of activity to come back to speed.
The Browns quarterbacks
Three of the four Browns QBs trot onto the field. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
The team will want to see how Kenny Pickett performs in Kevin Stefanski's offense, which was designed to support wide zone blocking concepts and a power running attack, the latter of which is now in question due to off-field issues for Quinshon Judkins. Judkins' probable absence will give Dylan Sampson a chance to break out and, barring that, will put additional pressure on the arm of the starting quarterback.
Lurking behind Pickett are Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, two players who surprised experts by being taken earlier and later than expected, respectively. Gabriel is prized for his arm and brain, but he is dealing with a height issue that has rarely been overcome at the NFL level. Sanders brings the right metrics and a history of transforming the Colorado program, but dropped mysteriously in the draft as teams shied away from a player who was expected to go in the first round, if not near the top of it.
Speaking personally, Pickett seems to me like someone who will need to stand out significantly in camp to justify his presence on the team. He's trapped between Flacco's successful history with the Browns and the potentially high ceilings of the rookies, which need to be explored in 2025. The Browns need to learn what they have in Gabriel and Sanders, and the only way to do that is regular-season action.
Pickett has upside and is considered a good fit for Stefanski's offense, but the best-case scenario is a Sam Darnold-like season where he suddenly finds himself. I expect the team to initially go with Flacco as they attempt to field a competitive squad this season. Still, I believe they will likely start experimenting with the youngsters as the season progresses and an opportunity to draft a quarterback at the top of the 2026 draft beckons. I'm not sure where Pickett (who is still tradeable) fits in that scenario, unless Flacco's age undermines his abilities during the pre-season.
There's not much to say about the Browns quarterback situation that hasn't already been said, but we can at least set the table for what might be an intriguing upcoming six weeks as the Browns prepare for the season. The Browns quarterback competition will be fascinating to watch.
IN THE NEWS:
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
Newswire Bloviation Archive
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OBR STUFF
ARTICLES:
Predicting A Cleveland Browns Greg Newsome or Martin Emerson Extension - Jack
Eventually Cleveland Browns Player Misbehavior Will Catch up to Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry - Pete
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 7/16: 911 Calls, Waterfront Concerns, and a Webdork Goes to War - Barry
Cleveland Browns Trading for Falcons QB Kirk Cousins Makes No Sense - Jacob
Safety Analysis: Will Cleveland Browns Ronnie Hickman be Able to Seize the Opportunity at Free Safety in 2025? - Fred
OBR STREAMING NETWORK
Yesterday:
Browns 3D- Cleveland Browns BIGGEST Training Camp Questions - (youtube.com)
OBR Weekly: The BIG Training Camp Questions - (youtube.com)
Today:
6PM: Browns 3-D with Jeff Lloyd
7PM: All Eyez on Cleveland with Brad Ward and Casey Kinnamon
Watch on YouTube and Twitch!
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