The Cleveland Browns are set to play their first preseason game on Friday night on the road against the Carolina Panthers. In that game, Shedeur Sanders is set to receive the start at quarterback.
With both Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel nursing injuries and Joe Flacco not playing, Sanders got the nod. Tyler Huntley will be the only other quarterback that will see the field for the Browns against the Panthers.
Even though Sanders is getting the starting job in the preseason opener, there is a four-man quarterback competition going on in Cleveland. Sanders is not currently leading that competition.
Flacco appears to be the favorite to win the job. Pickett seems to be the No. 2 quarterback right now with Gabriel behind him at No. 3. Sanders has been placed at No. 4 throughout most of training camp.
That being said, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter has made a shocking prediction at the position for the Browns.
Cleveland Browns Get Shocking 2025 QB Prediction From Adam Schefter
During a recent appearance, Schefter made his belief clear that he thinks Cleveland will end up carrying four quarterbacks into the regular season on its 53-man roster.
Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
“I actually now think the Browns are more likely than not to carry four quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster. I think both rookie quarterbacks are on the Browns’ final 53-man roster. Joe Flacco, right now, seems to be the man who is in the lead for the Browns’ starting quarterback job. Kenny Pickett is still young, a former first-round draft pick, and a quarterback. If teams suffer from an injury, you would think that the first teams they would call would be the Cleveland Browns. They are more likely to have four quarterbacks on the final 53, than they are three,” Schefter said.
That would be a bold strategy for the Browns. Keeping four quarterbacks would likely mean making tough decisions at other positions.
Unfortunately, that is the position that Cleveland is in. There is no clear-cut long-term quarterback on the roster and cutting or trading one of its 2025 draft picks wouldn’t be a great move.
Expect to see the quarterback competition rage on throughout camp and preseason action. For now, all eyes will be on Sanders as he starts the preseason opener.