Why ESPN analyst disagrees with Browns' reported quarterback plan

Even before the Cleveland Browns added rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel to their quarterback room via the 2025 NFL Draft, team reporters insisted that either veteran Joe Flacco or 2022 first-round choice Kenny Pickett will emerge this summer as Cleveland's Week 1 starter. 

During a Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky explained why he disagrees with the Browns' reported quarterback plan for the upcoming campaign.

"I would do everything I can to start either Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel this year," Orlovsky said, as shared by Karl Rasmussen of Sports Illustrated. "I would only start Joe Flacco or Kenny, and probably Joe, if, 'Oh my gosh, this is a disaster.' And if you're Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry, their head coach and general manager, you go, 'Hey, if one of these two kids starts, we're going to get fired,' if it's that bad throughout the preseason."

Of course, it's possible Gabriel and Sanders will be "bad" enough from springtime workouts through Cleveland's final preseason game that Stefanski will have no other choice but to turn to either Flacco or Pickett. As recently as Wednesday, The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner noted that the Browns selecting Gabriel with overall pick No. 94 is considered "one of the draft’s biggest reaches." Meanwhile, the fact that Sanders fell to the draft's fifth round suggests he's more of a project for the future than a 2025 Week 1 QB1. 

As of Wednesday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook listed Flacco as a +116 betting favorite to open the regular season as Cleveland's starter. That's understandable, as he's the only active quarterback on the roster who has experience facing defenses while in Stefanski's offense. However, Flacco also turns 41 years old next winter and is in the twilight of his career. 

"There's not a ton of benefit, for me, starting Joe Flacco, because it doesn't answer anything with the potential of next year's (draft) class and them figuring out long term at least what's the situation. So, I would start one of those two rookies," Orlovsky added .

Sanders may or may not have been the best quarterback during Cleveland's recent rookie minicamp. It remains to be seen if he can do enough by the end of August to convince Stefanski that immediately starting the polarizing prospect is what's best for everybody involved.