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Browns Veteran Flacco Starts, But Rookie QBs Await Their Chance
19 Aug
Summary
- Joe Flacco named Browns' starting QB for 2025 season
- Flacco has experience with Browns' system, but is a short-term fix
- Browns need to evaluate young QBs Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders
On August 19th, 2025, the Cleveland Browns announced that veteran quarterback Joe Flacco will be their starting QB to begin the 2025 NFL season. Flacco, who started five games for the Browns last year and helped the team reach the playoffs, is seen as a safe choice to lead the offense.
However, this decision is only a temporary fix for the Browns' long-standing quarterback carousel. While Flacco's experience and familiarity with the system will benefit the team, especially during a challenging early-season schedule, the Browns must also focus on developing their young QB prospects.
Rookie quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders all impressed during the preseason and will be pushing for playing time. The Browns need to give these young talents ample opportunities to prove they can be the franchise's long-term solution at the position before the 2026 NFL Draft, which is expected to feature a strong QB class.
Flacco, now 40 years old, is among the 40 different quarterbacks who have started for the Browns since 1999. The team cannot afford to stick with the veteran journeyman for too long if they want to finally solve their decades-long quarterback dilemma.
