Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski discusses timeline for starting QB decision

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jul 23, 2025 8:12 PM ET

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski doesn't want to spend too much time determining the team's starting quarterback.

The Browns are holding a four-way competition between QBs Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Cleveland starting QB Deshaun Watson is expected to miss most of the season after retearing his right Achilles in January.

On Wednesday, Stefanski said he plans to let the QBs split first-team reps during the first week of practice. He hopes one of the passers separates themselves quickly.

"I think the big thing for me is putting our guys in a position where we can evaluate them," the coach told the media. "I think they did a great job in the spring, all four of those guys. We'll continue to put them in some situations, but ultimately we'd love to make a decision sooner rather than later."

Kevin Stefanski on the QB competition pic.twitter.com/F3dHkQhJym
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 23, 2025

The QBs, however, may make that a difficult decision. None seems like a player who could immediately turn around a team that went 3-14 last season.

Flacco, a Super Bowl XLVII champion, turned 40 on Jan. 16. Pickett looked erratic in his first three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, posting a below-average 79.3 passer rating in 30 regular-season games.

The Browns took Gabriel (pick No. 94) and Sanders (pick No. 144) in the 2025 NFL Draft, but neither may be ready to lead the organization.

Stefanski still has to roll with one of the QBs. Don't be surprised if he picks one of the veterans.

Pickett received all first-team reps in 11-on-11 drills Wednesday, via ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. Flacco had no reps in 11-on-11 drills, but don't read into that too much.

It's worth noting Flacco knows Stefanski's system better than the other QBs. He played for the coach during the 2023 season, going 4-1 in five starts and leading the team to the playoffs.

The Browns have one of the NFL's weaker QB rooms. But naming a starter soon would give them a clearer plan before their season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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