How naming Joe Flacco as the starter helps the Browns in the long run

The Cleveland Browns were one of a few teams to address their starting quarterback questions for the beginning of the 2025 NFL season within the last few days. Not surprisingly, the Browns named veteran Joe Flacco their starting quarterback for Week 1 when they host the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Out of the four quarterbacks in the competition, Flacco was the safest pick, boasting the most starting experience among the group. Kenny Pickett had some potential, but has failed to establish himself as a starter during his three years in the league. Rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel are far from ready and not developed enough.

Browns don’t have to force Gabriel or Sanders on the field early

Not only is Flacco a safe option, but the Browns are thinking long-term. The Browns had a lot of bad luck with some of their previous quarterbacks, including Tim Couch, Johnny Manziel and DeShone Kizer, who were failures because they were not developed properly.

Cleveland knows there are areas on the team that are not up to standard, including the offensive line. A veteran starter is better equipped to handle shortcomings elsewhere on the roster. Furthermore, inexperienced players can sometimes develop bad habits when not given a sturdy support system, something the Browns hope to avoid with Gabriel and Sanders.

This also gives Gabriel and Sanders time to get comfortable adjusting to life in the NFL. There are attributes that both quarterbacks know they have to improve on. With Flacco starting, there won’t be any added pressure to be the instant saving grace for the Browns’ future.

The Browns can build around Gabriel or Sanders instead of drafting a replacement

One of the long-term effects of starting Flacco is that the team is trusting the process with Gabriel and Sanders. They aren’t required to be the go-to franchise quarterbacks this season, which means that the next offseason can be used to build around one of the two. This includes the first two round picks for the 2026 NFL Draft, with one of them being the Jacksonville Jaguars’ pick.

The idea of Cleveland getting Texas’ Arch Manning, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier or Clemson’s Cade Klubnik is exciting for some, but the Browns just used two draft picks to select quarterbacks and have other areas of need. They have serious issues on the offensive side of the ball, and potentially having two top 10 picks could allow the Browns to build around Gabriel and Sanders instead of replacing them.

The Browns gave up 66 sacks last season, which was the second-most in the league behind only the Chicago Bears. Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor and Utah’s Caleb Lomu or Spencer Fano will be offensive tackles for the Browns to consider with one of the first-round picks.

If the Browns want to get another big-time weapon, this draft is loaded with options. Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane or even Ohio State tight end Max Flare could be options for the Browns to add a pass-catcher.

The Browns have been trying to fix the quarterback position for a long time. While some may want to rush to find out if Gabriel or Sanders can be the answer, giving the pair time to learn the NFL game and giving them a stronger supporting cast is a prudent move by the Browns.