Browns 2025 training camp begins with a QB battle! See how Flacco, Pickett, Sanders, and Gabriel compete for the starting job in Cleveland's new offense.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The quiet of the offseason is officially over. On the eve of rookies reporting to Berea, the Cleveland Browns are buzzing with anticipation for a 2025 training camp that promises fierce competition and high drama. All eyes will be on the quarterback room, where a fascinating four-way battle between veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and promising rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel is set to unfold.
Analysts have called it the team's best offseason move, and for good reason: securing Myles Garrett didn't just keep a Defensive Player of the Year in Cleveland, it slammed the door on any talk of a rebuild.
The biggest story entering camp is undoubtedly under center. While Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett bring veteran experience, the real excitement surrounds the rookies. Shedeur Sanders, in particular, arrives with considerable hype and is seen as a legitimate contender to push for the starting job from day one. His competition with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel and the established vets will be the central drama of the summer. How the reps are split will be the first major clue to the coaching staff's intentions for a completely retooled offense.
While the offense finds its identity, the defense is anchored by its undisputed leader. The decision to sign Myles Garrett to a record-setting extension, complete with a no-trade clause, has been widely praised as the team's most critical offseason victory. It silenced the trade rumors Garrett himself initiated earlier in the year and solidified the foundation of a unit that finished 8th in the league in 2024. With Garrett locked in and new faces added through free agency, this defense isn't just stable; it's expected to be dominant.
As the next generation of Browns hopefuls arrives, the team also said farewell to a player whose career was cut short. Defensive end Elerson Smith was placed on the reserve/retired list today, just a day shy of his 27th birthday. Smith's career, hampered by persistent neck injuries after just 15 games, is a stark reminder of the physical toll of the NFL. His retirement underscores the preciousness of the opportunity awaiting the rookies who will walk through the doors of the Berea facility tomorrow.
The pieces are in place, the storylines are set, and the battles are about to begin. With rookies reporting Friday and veterans joining them on July 22, the countdown to the first padded practice around July 27 is on. From the quarterback competition to the fortified defense, every snap in Berea will be scrutinized. A new season of Cleveland Browns football is here.
