Joe Flacco, the safe choice winning over the locker room
The 39-year-old quarterback returned to Cleveland on a one-year deal and quickly earned the team’s trust last season.
With a 4-1 record as a starter and performances that earned him the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, Flacco has proven that his knowledge of coach Kevin Stefanski’s system and clutch leadership make him a valuable asset for the Browns.
This strong internal backing, especially from key players like Garrett, suggests Flacco is favored to start the season as the starter, though Shedeur Sanders continues to fight for the role.
Shedeur Sanders refuses to give up: a rookie hungry for the spotlight
Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders faces a harsh reality. Despite his unexpected fall in the 2025 draft and currently being low on the QB depth chart, he hasn’t stopped fighting.
The 23-year-old, who posted impressive stats at the University of Colorado, has invested in private coaching with experts like Darrell Colbert Jr. and is working hard to prove he deserves a starring role on the field.
However, the weeks leading up to the season have shown he still needs to earn the trust of the coaching staff and teammates.
Can Shedeur Sanders turn things around and dethrone Flacco? The competition is wide open and full of tension, with a divided locker room and a coach who must make the right call to bring the Browns back to success.
What’s clear is that the quarterback battle will be one of the biggest storylines in the 2025 NFL season.
