Shedeur Sanders quickly became the story of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Colorado QB saw 143 selections go by before finally hearing his name called by the Cleveland Browns at pick 144.
Cleveland now will approach the regular season with the most interesting quarterback room in the NFL. With Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Joe Flacco each having a different outlook for what they can bring to the team, expect plenty of eyes on this quarterback competition. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has a strong reputation for his ability with quarterbacks, and there are more directions he can choose to go than most teams are afforded.
There is still plenty to unfold ahead of training camp, with 131 days until the regular season. Before the competition begins to heat up, you can bet on who will take the first snap for the Browns in Week 1 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Kenny Pickett (-110)
Kenny Pickett was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles on March 12th following the Super Bowl victory. Pickett himself was able to take some snaps in the matchup with the dominant Eagles victory, and started one game for them last season as well.
Before this, he spent two seasons as the primary starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers after being selected as the 20th overall pick in the 2022 draft. He has started 25 total games in his NFL career, posting a QB record of 15-10. Pickett has 15 passing touchdowns and 14 interceptions across his NFL career.
A new location can change the outlook a great deal, but Pickett has painted a pretty clear picture of what his ceiling is as a quarterback. With that said, he handles his business like a professional and fits the bill as the type of stopgap quarterback organizations like to lean on.
Shedeur Sanders (+175)
Once expected to be a first-round lock, Sanders’ slide will continue to be a storyline for the rest of his career. It is impossible to ignore the personality and everything that comes with Deion Sanders’ son being a part of this equation. But you also cannot ignore some of the throws he made in college and the offensive line struggles he battled. The Browns believe in him enough to give him a chance, and he should be given a fair shot to win the job.
Sure to be one of the most polarizing players in the entire NFL, Cleveland’s thought process on its management of Sanders and his actual football talent are each a part of this equation. There is a world where the draft day slide ends up being the best thing for the 23-year-old if he carries a chip on his shoulder into the NFL the right way. But don’t expect the storylines and headlines to slow down anytime soon.
Dillon Gabriel (+475)
Sure to be overshadowed by the name listed above him, Dillon Gabriel was selected with the 94th overall pick in this year’s draft. He is coming off an incredibly accomplished collegiate career in which he spent three seasons at UCF, two years at Oklahoma, and last year at Oregon.
In total, Gabriel threw for 18,722 passing yards and is the all-time leader in touchdowns at the FBS level with 155. He also threw only 32 interceptions across his 2,111 passing attempts in his entire collegiate career. Gabriel is a much more sure thing in who he is as a football player, but there is some fair skepticism in his arm talent and overall NFL fit. At 24 years old and with some of the most experience in college football history, Gabriel should be looked at as an NFL-ready rookie that the Browns believe in.
Joe Flacco (+1500)
Set to enter his 18th season in the NFL at the age of 40, Joe Flacco agreed to a one-year $4 million contract to return to the Browns. He last played for the franchise in 2023, starting five games in which the team went 4-1 and throwing for 13 touchdowns. Flacco spent last season with the Indianapolis Colts, where he played in eight games, six of which were starts.
His best days are undoubtedly behind him, but if Flacco did not still have the fire within him to keep playing, he would have hung it up a while ago. The former Super Bowl champion has proven all he needs to on the football field and likely will end up more valuable from a professionalism and veteran presence standpoint than what he does on the field.
Deshaun Watson (+1500)
Deshaun Watson suffered a second Achilles tear during his recovery process, putting his outlook for the 2025 season in doubt. This is not a result that is particularly disappointing to either Watson or the Browns, with his time in Cleveland looking to be a complete failure by every definition. The massive dead cap hit the franchise would take by moving on from the 29-year-old nearly guarantees he will remain on the roster. But it feels like a long shot he takes a snap next season, let alone in Week 1.
The Pick: Shedeur Sanders (+175)
This is a difficult market to handicap, with the result being based on an organizational decision rather than a specific result. From a pure value perspective, I don’t mind taking a swing on Joe Flacco at +1500 if the Browns want to ensure a veteran presence that they know what they are getting. Kenny Pickett is the -110 favorite for this exact reason and has a strong case for being the guy.
But I like the +175 odds of Shedeur Sanders being the starting quarterback for the Browns in Week 1. He certainly has his flaws as a player and personality, but Sanders brings a spark that Cleveland needs. When looking down the list of quarterback options, Sanders possesses the greatest chance of being a true quarterback of the future in a way none of these other names do. The Browns have had a winning record just three times in the past 22 seasons, including last year’s 3-14 record, and it has been a revolving door of quarterback options.
The biggest concern should be if the Browns make it a point for Sanders to earn the role and are intent on having him start on the sidelines. But there is an X-factor that Sanders possesses that is worth taking a chance on for Cleveland and on DraftKings Sportsbook.
