When the Cleveland Browns shipped out Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders, they revealed just how much they trust their rookie quarterbacks.
Oregon's Dillon Gabriel and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders are the backup and third-string quarterbacks, respectively, and that seems to be how the season will start with veteran Joe Flacco under center Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
But after the first month or so of the season, all bets are off. And Cleveland will seemingly want to see what their rookies have to offer, especially if the Browns are out of playoff contention.
Jimmy Haslam Says He 'Absolutely' Wants to See Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders Play
In an article written by ESPN insider Daniel Oyefusi, he revealed that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is keen on seeing what his rookie signal callers can do when given the opportunity to start.
"With the Browns trading Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders last week, a clearer pathway has been created for the Browns to evaluate the rookie quarterbacks ahead of the 2026 draft. When asked if it was important to see Gabriel and Sanders on the field this season, Jimmy Haslam answered, 'Absolutely.'" Wrote Oyefusi.
While owners don't typically comment on team personnel, the Browns are in an interesting spot given their quarterback situation.
The 40-year-old Flacco is obviously not the future for Cleveland, and if his age starts to show, the Browns could be quick to turn to their Heisman finalist in Gabriel or high-profile fifth-round pick Sanders.
With Gabriel named the backup following the Pickett trade, it's safe to assume he would get first crack in the event of a Flacco benching, but Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported last week that Sanders will get his opportunity later in the season, once he's had some more time to develop.
Regardless, while the Browns aren't expected to be a team to beat in 2025, they will be an interesting story to keep an eye on with their revolving door of quarterbacks.