Cleveland Browns' 2025 QB battle heats up as Pickett, Flacco, Gabriel & Sanders compete. Who will win the starting job? Minicamp report from June 2025.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The Cleveland Browns' mandatory minicamp is in the books, and one question looms larger than any other: who is going to be the starting quarterback? With a room featuring veteran Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, journeyman Kenny Pickett, and promising rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the competition is officially the main event heading into training camp. Early practice reps are offering clues, but they're also raising more questions about the team's direction for the 2025 season.
Let's get it.
While it's only June, the QB depth chart is already a hot topic. Kenny Pickett has been taking the majority of first-team reps, but sources are quick to caution against reading too much into it. The move is largely seen as a way to manage 39-year-old Joe Flacco's workload and give the more senior Pickett his due. Pickett's performance has been described as 'unremarkable,' leaving the door wide open. With the dynamic Dillon Gabriel and the highly-touted Shedeur Sanders also in the mix, speculation is rampant that the Browns won't carry all four into the season, making every rep critical and a potential trade a real possibility before Week 1.
While the quarterbacks grab the headlines, the front office is quietly executing a long-term plan. Insiders believe rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham is being 'overlooked' after the Browns traded down to select the Michigan standout. Graham was a force in his final two collegiate seasons, and his selection signals a commitment to building a dominant defensive front for the future. It's a classic Andrew Berry move, focusing on value and foundational pieces while the rest of the league obsesses over the glamour positions.
Adding another layer of complexity to the offseason is the injury report. Several key contributors are currently sidelined, and their availability for training camp is a major concern. The list includes star linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck), former QB1 Deshaun Watson (Achilles), rookie Michael Hall Jr. (knee), Ja'seem Reed (undisclosed), and receiver David Bell (hip). The health of JOK, in particular, will be monitored closely, as he is the heart of the defense.
Amidst the quarterback carousel, draft analysis, and injury concerns, star cornerback Denzel Ward cut through the noise with a simple, three-word message for the team and its fans: 'Let's get it.' The statement, though brief, speaks volumes. It's a clear call to block out distractions and focus on the work ahead. In a locker room with so many moving parts and new faces, that veteran leadership provides a crucial anchor.
As minicamp wraps up, the picture for the 2025 Browns is anything but clear. The quarterback competition is a four-man race with no clear favorite, key players are on the mend, and the front office continues to build for both now and the future. Denzel Ward's message sets the right tone, but the real tests begin when the pads come on in training camp. All eyes will be on the quarterbacks, but the health of the roster and the development of rookies like Mason Graham will ultimately define Cleveland's season.
