Cleveland Browns' Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel Locks For Roster Spots? NFL Insider Trade Prediction

Are Cleveland Browns rookie quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel locks to make the roster ahead of the 2025 NFL season? Will the Browns trade quarterbacks Kenny Pickett or Joe Flacco or will the veterans see playing time? NFL insider addresses keeping all four quarterbacks on the roster, including the former Colorado Buffaloes star Sanders.
Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (right) chats with wide receiver Gage Larvadain after practice, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Berea.
Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (right) chats with wide receiver Gage Larvadain after practice, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Berea. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Are Cleveland Browns rookie quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel locks to make the roster ahead of the 2025 NFL season? Will the Browns trade quarterbacks Kenny Pickett or Joe Flacco or will the veterans see playing time?

NFL insider Mary Kay Cabot addresses keeping all four quarterbacks on the roster, including the former Colorado Buffaloes star Sanders.

Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (right) chats with wide receiver Gage Larvadain after practice, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in
Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (right) chats with wide receiver Gage Larvadain after practice, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Berea. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"There are ways to get around this... it is the most important position on the team," Cabot said on 923TheFan. "You might not know this year if Sheduer and Dillon are going to be something down the road. So those guys aren't going anywhere. They're keeping Dillon and Shedeur I wrote that in the column that I wrote today. Those guys are going to make the football team. So you can pretty much take that to the bank."

Then it's just a matter of trying to figure out what you would want to do with Joe and Kenny. And I think both of them will play this year," Cabot continued.

Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) listens to a play call during mini camp at CrossCountry Mor
Jun 12, 2025; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) listens to a play call during mini camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

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Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski, GM Andrew Berry and the Browns are in the most unique scenario in the NFL this offseason with four quarterbacks vying for the starting job in an attention-grabbing situation. Berry is open to keeping all four quarterbacks on the roster, "if they play well enough," according to Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports.

Some analysts doubt that the Browns would keep all four quarterbacks (five including the injured Deshaun Watson) on the roster. Cabot details why Cleveland is considering the bold move.

"I absolutely think that they will do it," Cabot continued. "I think you can almost count on it at the very beginning of the season while they work through their roster decisions."

"From there, it's just a matter of time if they decide to hang on to all four through the trade deadline on November 4th, which would give them eight games to figure out where this whole thing is going. Or if they just want to continue on and keep all four of them through the end of the season, they can certainly do it from a cost standpoint because the cap charge for all four of those quarterbacks adds up to only a $7.6 million or something like that. So you can definitely do it from a financial standpoint," Cabot said on 923TheFan.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) speaks with head coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at NFL minicamp, Wed
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) speaks with head coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at NFL minicamp, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Browns drafted Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after already selecting Gabriel in the third round. As Cleveland sorts through the depth chart of a crowded quarterbacks room, both rookies have a real shot to win the starting job and potential be the Browns' long term answer at quarterback.

As the hottest NFL offseason storyline, can Sanders rise to the top of the depth chart? Since being drafted in April, Sanders has certainly made a strong case for the Browns to give him a shot. Maybe most likely would be that the Browns start a veteran to begin the season and then potentially give a rookie the start later in the season.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, left, stands between quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Shedeur Sanders during minicamp, Tuesday, June 10
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, left, stands between quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Shedeur Sanders during minicamp, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Berea. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Sanders' adjustment to the NFL comes after two excellent seasons at Colorado. Sanders finished his Buffaloes career with 50 games played in four seasons and completed 1,267-of-1,808 passes (70.1%) for 14,353 yards and 134 touchdowns with 27 interceptions.

Sanders broke over 100 program records and finished third in passing yards, fifth in attempts, third in completions, first in passing touchdowns and tops in quarterback rating.   

Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws as QBs Dillon Gabriel (5) and Kenny Pickett look on during minicamp, Tuesday, June
Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws as QBs Dillon Gabriel (5) and Kenny Pickett look on during minicamp, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Berea. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cleveland's training camp dates will be announces soon but typically they begin at the end of July. NFL preseason begins for the Browns on the road vs. the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8.

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Bri Amaranthus
BRI AMARANTHUS

Bri Amaranthus is an Emmy-winning sports reporter with over 12 years of experience in television, radio, podcasting, and digital sports journalism. She has been with Sports Illustrated for four years, providing breaking news, exclusive interviews, and analysis on the NFL, college sports, and the NBA. Prior to joining SI, Bri hosted NBC Sports Northwest's prime-time television show, where she also served as the Oregon beat reporter and created content covering both the NBA and college sports. Throughout her career, Bri has achieved significant milestones, including covering major events like the NBA Finals, NFL playoffs, College Football Playoff, NCAA Basketball Tournament, NFL Draft, and the NFL Combine. She earned a D1 scholarship to play softball at the University of San Diego and won two state softball titles in high school in Oregon. In addition to her Emmy win for NBC's All-Star Coach special, she has received multiple Emmy nominations, highlighting her dedication and talent in sports journalism.

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