Well, well, well… Joe Flacco is back in the saddle—and not just for nostalgia’s sake. The Cleveland Browns are reportedly handing the Week 1 reins to the 40-year-old Super Bowl MVP, crowning him QB1 in what’s been the NFL’s most-watched quarterback carousel this preseason.
Flacco outlasted four challengers—Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Tyler Huntley, and the heavily scrutinized Shedeur Sanders—to earn the nod for the opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. And let’s be real: this wasn’t just a victory lap for a veteran.
This was a flat-out competition, born out of necessity after Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury left the Browns scrambling for answers under center.
The move signals one thing: Cleveland is going with experience over upside—at least for now. Flacco may not have the legs, but he’s got the arm, the playoff pedigree, and the cool-headed presence that a locker room needs when the pressure starts to boil. And considering what’s looming—a brutal AFC North schedule and sky-high fan expectations—stability might be the smartest play.
But of course, that leaves some big names in limbo. Shedeur Sanders, once hyped as a potential breakout rookie, now faces an uncertain fate. CBS analyst Pete Prisco didn’t hold back, suggesting Sanders could be on the practice squad—or the street. Ouch.
Drafted in the fifth round (two rounds behind Dillon Gabriel), Sanders is staring down the harsh reality of NFL economics: draft status matters, and so does versatility. So far, he hasn’t shown enough of either.
And then there’s Kenny Pickett. The former Steelers starter turned Browns hopeful is in a precarious spot. He’s not quite a vet, not quite a prospect.
According to Prisco, Pickett’s the odd man out in the numbers game. If the Browns decide to roll with one veteran and two young guns, Pickett’s either trade bait—or out the door.
The Browns are expected to keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. If so, Huntley—who’s had a quietly solid preseason—might be the safest bet behind Flacco. He knows how to manage a game, and unlike some of the younger options, he won’t panic under pressure.
Bottom line: the Flacco era in Cleveland is officially underway—for now. But with a rookie-heavy QB room on standby and a fanbase that’s seen this movie before, there’s a good chance this depth chart sees more twists than a daytime soap. Stay tuned.
