Overview

• Stefanski withheld first-team reps from rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel during OTAs and minicamp to preserve veteran experience.
• Veterans such as Myles Garrett have voiced support for Joe Flacco as the Week 1 starter; Hall of Famer Cris Carter has publicly championed Kenny Pickett based on his growth potential.
• Browns insider Cecil Shorts III urged Stefanski to let rookie quarterbacks compete freely throughout preseason as a decisive test.
• Flacco’s one-year deal and reported plan to retire after 2025 heighten the need for a clear succession plan.
• Mock drafts project Clemson’s Cade Klubnik as a potential 2026 No. 1 pick, underscoring the front office’s balancing of present competition and future quarterback planning.