CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ten days into Browns training camp, I’ve watched every practice closely and thoroughly broken down the film from each session. This consistent, day-by-day analysis reveals key trends, player development, and strategic adjustments from a coach’s perspective.
Here are the five biggest takeaways that stand out so far from what I’ve seen both on the field and on tape.
1. Flacco is the best option
Joe Flacco has clearly separated himself from the quarterback competition during the first 10 days of Browns training camp. His performance is rooted in elite mechanical consistency in his footwork, balance, and ability to transfer weight efficiently through his throws.
These traits have allowed him to remain composed under pressure, stay on time through full field progression reads, and consistently deliver accurate passes at all three levels of the field. Flacco’s years of experience have made these mechanics second nature, allowing him to maintain his platform and throw with confidence, even as defenders collapse the pocket.
Where younger quarterbacks tend to rush their footwork or fall off throws under heat, Flacco keeps his feet underneath him, shoulders level, and his body sequencing tight, which results in reliable velocity and ball placement regardless of the situation.
This consistency has translated into high-level execution throughout camp.
In one standout rep, Flacco delivered a deep 12-yard out to Jerry Jeudy off play-action, calmly sliding into a throwing window as pressure looped inside.
In a red zone sequence, he connected with Jeudy again on a skinny post, splitting the corner and the safety and driving the ball between those defenders.
On another rep inside the 5-yard line, he dropped a fade to Gage Larvadain perfectly over tight man coverage.
Earlier in team period, he hit Blake Whiteheart on a drag as part of a flood concept, showing the awareness to layer the ball underneath zone coverage after scanning his first two reads.
In another team drill, he calmly worked through his progression left-to-right and hit running back Dylan Sampson on a swing after his primary verticals were covered to his right.
Flacco also showed anticipation on a 15-yard dig to Cedric Tillman, throwing before the break, and a speed out to Harold Fannin Jr. from 12 personnel when reading cover 3 rotation.
Below is a look at the consistency of some of the throws from Flacco. He demonstrates great balance and weight transfer.
Kenny Pickett was solid early in camp, showing poise on bootlegs and timing throws, but he missed key practice days from Day 5 through Day 10 due to a hamstring injury. That lost time in install and full-speed team drills could make it difficult for him to push for the starting job by Week 1 despite a strong showing on Day 10.
Dillon Gabriel has shown noticeable improvement in processing over the last 10 days, particularly in his ability to work through progressions and diagnose coverage structure pre- to post-snap. He has also been excellent with his footwork, ball handling, and the setting of pass protections.
Mentally, he has been in full control. However, his accuracy really struggled from Day 8-10, particularly on throws outside the numbers and in the red zone. Overthrows, misfires on swing routes, and inconsistent placement have slowed his momentum.
Shedeur Sanders, meanwhile, has made the most of his fewer reps. He had his best and most meaningful stretch of camp during Monday’s live two-minute drill.
On the opening series, he delivered a tremendous 15-yard dig to Diontae Johnson in stride, showing improved poise and timing. He followed it up with his best throw of camp with a seam throw to Luke Floriea, layered perfectly over the linebacker and between the safety, leading to a made field goal and a successful drive.
Unfortunately, as the drill continued, Sanders reverted to old habits by holding on to the football, drifting backward, and taking a sack, which pushed the offense out of field goal range.
Still, Sanders seems to be the best of the group in empty formations, where spacing improves and reads are simplified. In those looks, he makes quick, decisive decisions, transfers his weight forward, and creates strong velocity on his throws. When he’s in rhythm and balanced, the ball jumps out of his hand with timing and confidence.
Ultimately, Flacco’s blend of polish, poise, and veteran field command paired with his ability to operate from under center or in shotgun, against pressure or in structure, makes him the clear best option to start Week 1. He’s executing with rhythm and timing, manipulating coverages, and elevating the offense every time he’s under center. He looks fully prepared to lead this team on day one.
2. Defensive line is the strength
The most dominant and disruptive group on the field has been the Browns’ defensive line, and it’s not even close. From even and odd fronts, this unit has repeatedly collapsed the pocket and eliminated interior rushing lanes.
Myles Garrett remains a nightmare off the edge in wide-9 and 5-technique alignments, winning with both speed to power and ghost moves. Inside, Mason Graham and Malik Collins have been highly effective in 2i and 3 technique roles, penetrating and blowing up duo and inside zone runs before they can develop.
In team periods, the defense has shown strong execution of twist games, tackle/end stunts, and simulated pressures, creating confusion for the offensive line.
Shelby Harris and Isaiah McGuire have also flashed on pass rush repetitions, consistently beating tackles with chop/rip and swim counters. The defensive line’s ability to win one-on-one and execute gap control discipline has shut down inside zone concepts, forcing the offense to bounce runs wide or abandon the run game entirely. Whether in nickel or base personnel, this front is setting the tone and redefining the line of scrimmage on every snap.
Below are clips from the dominant defensive line during the first 10 days of training camp.
3. Schwesinger is beyond his years
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger has been one of the most eye-opening performers in camp, playing with the vision, discipline, and play recognition typically expected from a veteran Mike linebacker.
Last season, Schwesinger led all of major college football with 90 solo tackles, demonstrating both elite range and reliability in the open field. This statistic is particularly important for the Browns, who struggled with open field tackling last season and often allowed second effort yards after initial contact.
Schwesinger’s presence offers a potential solution to that issue by injecting a proven finisher into the linebacker rotation. Operating as both a Will in nickel and an off-ball linebacker in base, Schwesinger has consistently diagnosed run schemes like split zone, inside zone, and counter, triggering downhill with urgency and excellent pad level. He seems to have an innate feel for attacking pulling guards and slipping blocks in power and gap concepts, often beating the blocker to the spot with leverage and hand placement.
In pass coverage, he’s shown solid matchup zone technique and awareness of route distribution by breaking on angle routes, screens, and checkdowns with precise timing. He’s been outstanding in blitz pickup sessions, defeating protections with well-timed B-gap pressures. Regardless of coverage, Schwesinger plays with sound positioning and rarely gets caught out of phase. His high football IQ, pursuit angles, and physicality suggest he’s far ahead of where a rookie or second year player is typically expected to be.
Below is a look at Schwesinger through training camp.
4. A battle for final WR spots
The battle for final wide receiver roster spots has become one of the most compelling storylines of camp, with Luke Floriea, Gage Larvadain, Jamari Thrash, and Kaden Davis all making strong cases.
These receivers have primarily worked with the twos and threes in 11, 12, and even empty personnel packages, and each has showcased route polish, situational awareness, and yards-after-catch potential.
Floriea excels in the slot, attacking leverage on whip routes, stick options, and mesh concepts while showing the ability to find voids in zone and create after the catch.
Larvadain has proven reliable on deep overs and corner/post routes and shows tremendous catch radius, ball skills, and spatial awareness on all deep passes.
Thrash has been a primary target on dagger, sail, and levels concepts, displaying crisp breaks and strong hands.
Davis has consistently won on comebacks and hitches against off-man and has shown physicality on boundary fades.
These four players have rotated in with the twos and threes and have been involved in nearly every major evaluation scenario, including red zone, two-minute, and blitz drills. Their consistency and versatility have made it clear that they’re in the thick of the roster battle, and at least one or two of them may force the Browns to make difficult decisions at cutdown time. See what I mean, below.
Floriea
Larvadain
Thrash
Davis
5. Fannin involved in best grouping
The Browns’ most effective offensive grouping through the first 10 days has been 12 personnel, particularly when utilizing Harold Fannin Jr. as an H-back or move tight end. Fannin has lined up inline, offset, and in the backfield, frequently executing arc blocks, lead inserts, and kickouts in wide zone and split zone concepts.
In the passing game, he’s been used on arrow, return, and flat routes, often from condensed formations, and has proven to be a reliable checkdown and with elite run after catch ability. His ability to align in multiple spots gives the Browns flexibility to run balanced formations or shift into empty, forcing mismatches against base personnel.
Meanwhile, David Njoku, expected to be a primary threat, has been underutilized. His targets have been limited to a few stick and corner routes, and he’s yet to make a consistent impact. He’s also been the target of at least one drop and a miscommunication in the red zone. While the offense has leaned heavily on 12 personnel with success in both zone and play-action concepts like naked boots and flood, Njoku’s limited involvement suggests he has not yet been a focal point in the install. For this grouping to reach its full potential, Njoku must become a more featured target, particularly on vertical seams, Y-cross, and red zone isolations.
Below is a look at some catches from Fannin this training camp
Lance Reisland is the former coach at Garfield Heights High School, where he spent 18 seasons as an assistant for his father, Chuck, and four as head coach, from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, his team finished 11-1 and appeared in the OHSAA Division II regional semifinals. That team went 10-0 and made history as the first Garfield Heights team in 41 years to have an undefeated regular season along with beating Warren G. Harding for the first playoff win in school history.
Football Insider newsletter free trial: Take a minute and sign up for a free trial of our Football Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive content from cleveland.com's Browns reporters.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.