When the Cleveland Browns traded Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders, they figured to have settled their quarterback room for the 2025 season.
Oregon's Dillon Gabriel was slotted to be the backup, with Colorado's Shedeur Sanders set to serve as the third-string quarterback. However, one former player believes the QB discourse is far from over in Cleveland.
Minnesota Vikings franchise hero and current NFL analyst Cris Carter believes Gabriel is set to face the most scrutiny of any Brown this upcoming season, and it's thanks to Sanders.
Cris Carter Says Gabriel Will Face Pressure From Browns Fans
On an episode of the Fully Loaded podcast, Carter was asked if he believes Cleveland's quarterback depth chart is set in stone for the 2025 season.
"We’re not good. Joe Flacco is 65, man. Gabriel will get the first chance if Flacco doesn’t perform. Gabriel would have a better chance of being successful if the backup behind him wasn’t named Shedeur Sanders." Carter said. "The people know Shedeur’s behind him. In every city, the most popular QB is the backup."
To Carter's point, Sanders has quite a following of fans thanks to his electric personality and exciting performances at Colorado. Despite being a fifth-round pick, his preseason performances were must-watch TV.
"So, anything that he (Gabriel) does that is not extraordinary. And it’s hard to play under those circumstances, he’s going to have to play ridiculously well for them not to go to Shedeur because the pressure, the booing, the the communication, what they’re going to be saying. Cleveland is not a 500 football team. So, how many games are they gonna give Joe Flacco? Six maybe. Yeah. Okay. So, the first month, month and a half of the season, and then it’s going to be who’s better."
While it's yet to be determined just how many games the 40-year-old Joe Flacco gets as the starting quarterback of the Browns, it's been confirmed that the former Heisman finalist Gabriel will get the first shot if Flacco falters. Then, it's on him and his play to keep Cleveland fans off his back, and Sanders at bay on the bench.