NFL News: Joe Flacco faces tough challenge from Kevin Stefanski's Browns after Shedeur Sanders pick

Joe Flacco had sent a warning to the Cleveland Browns when he said he wanted to keep playing until he no longer could. The veteran quarterback is focused on making the most of his opportunity to start in the 2025 NFL season, while Kevin Stefanski will not make it easy, as the team will feature new faces in the QB room, such as Shedeur Sanders.

“I feel like once I made that decision, in my mind, then I didn’t give myself an out, and I want to play, and I’m going to play until I can’t,” Flacco said a few days ago. Now, the outlook is more difficult for the veteran quarterback in his quest to earn minutes on the field with the Browns.

The Browns of head coach Stefanski were aggressive in selecting quarterbacks during the draft. Dillon Gabriel, from the University of Oregon, joined Cleveland as the 94th overall pick. The 24-year-old quarterback had an impressive college career, playing at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon, where he totaled 18,722 passing yards and 155 touchdowns.

More competition for Flacco

Following the selection of Gabriel, the Browns surprised everyone by drafting Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 144th overall pick. This move brings Cleveland’s quarterback depth chart to a total of five players, making Flacco’s stay with the Browns an even greater challenge.

Shedeur Sanders of Colorado speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine

Who will be the Browns’ starting quarterback?

The arrival of Sanders to the Browns intensifies an already crowded quarterback competition, further fueled by the addition of Kenny Pickett. Although Deshaun Watson remains the primary quarterback in the franchise’s plans, concerns about his durability and performance have created an opportunity for strong alternatives.

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NFL News: Browns QB Joe Flacco sends bold warning to HC Kevin Stefanski before the draft

Flacco, who delivered an outstanding performance at the end of the 2023 season and was instrumental in leading the Browns to the playoffs, will look to use his experience to compete for the starting role. Meanwhile, Pickett, Sanders, and Gabriel emerge as the main threats to his plan to lead Cleveland.