Shedeur Sanders Best in Cleveland Browns Quarterback Room?

Former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders has impressed some people so far in Cleveland Browns practices. The fifth round rookie is a member of a quarterback room in Cleveland that consists of four other players; Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Deshaun Watson.

One source that was at Cleveland Browns OTA’s claimed that Sanders has been the best quarterback in that room up to this point in the offseason.

Shedeur Sanders the Best in Browns’ Quarterback Room?

Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett, left, chats with quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during an NFL practice at the Cleveland Browns training facility on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cleveland sports show co-host Tony Rizzo was asked about Shedeur Sanders’s performance so far in Browns camp.

“I got a text from an ESPN Cleveland employee that said Shedeur looked like the best quarterback in camp,” Rizzo said.

Tony Rizzo got a message about Shedeur’s performance during OTAs 👀🔥 #DawgPound

"I got a text from an ESPN Cleveland employee that said Shedeur looked like the best quarterback in camp."

Via: (@ESPNCleveland) pic.twitter.com/xU9ws7CrR9
— STAMPEDE (@stampedeftbl) June 8, 2025

Sanders has been taking reps with three of the four other Browns quarterbacks the past few weeks. The only quarterback on the Browns roster that hasn’t been partaking is Deshaun Watson. Watson suffered a torn achilles last season and his return for next season is still up in the air.

Sanders has currently been splitting reps with Gabriel, Flacco, and Pickett.

MORE: Cleveland Browns Coach Addresses Shedeur Sanders' Work Ethic At OTAs

MORE: Cleveland Browns Trade Kenny Pickett Before NFL Training Camp? Shedeur Sanders Rising

MORE: Cleveland Browns Quarterback Shedeur Sanders' Stats From OTAs Released

Who Will Be the Starting Quarterback in Week One?

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, facing, chats with rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during an NFL practice at the Cleveland Browns training facility on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Even if one of the rookies (Sanders or Gabriel) perform well through training camp, it is still possible neither one of them win the starting job for the Browns opening game on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Browns are coming off of a 3-14 2024 season. In the 2025 NFL Draft, Gabriel was selected in the third round and Sanders in the fifth. Would Browns coach Kevin Stefanski throw one of these rookies into the fire immediately instead of letting a veteran like Joe Flacco begin the season as the starter?

Recent Cleveland Browns Quarterback History

Dec 14, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The quarterback position for the Cleveland Browns has a been a question mark even since the franchise was reborn in 1999. Since then, the Browns have had an astonishing 40 different quarterbacks that have started a game for them. It has been a constant turnstile for a quarterback century.

It looked as if the Browns had that quarterback question finally answered after they select Baker Mayfield No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. In his third season as starter, Mayfield helped lead the Browns to the playoffs and a Wild Card round win over the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. After that season, things began to fall apart.

Mayfield battled through numerous injuries and it clearly affected his play as he and the Browns could never get to where they were in that playoff season. Mayfield ended up in short stops with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams before he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the 2023 season.

Since coming to Tampa Bay, Mayfield has led the Buccaneers to the playoffs multiple times and has proven to be a very good starting quarterback in the NFL. Meanwhile in Cleveland, the Browns are still searching for their answer.