When Joe Flacco was traded by the Cleveland Browns, many fans were surprised that Kevin Stefanski was unwilling to announce rookie Shedeur Sanders as the backup QB on the depth chart.
The Flacco trade thrusted third-round pick Dillon Gabriel into the spotlight as the team’s starter with 13 games left on the schedule, giving the Browns plenty of time to give him an extended look under center. But the move also inched Sanders one step closer to starting his first NFL game, even if the franchise was unwilling to admit it.
After Sanders was named QB2 last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans around the NFL have been wondering if and when they will get to see the former Heisman Trophy candidate take the field this season.
Sanders outplayed Gabriel during training camp and the preseason, despite getting fewer reps in what turned out to be a lopsided QB competition.
How Long Of A Leash Will The Browns Give Gabriel?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler predicted that Gabriel will have a long leash and a chance to play through his mistakes in Stefanski’s offense.
But the length of that leash could be in question following two lackluster starts by the rookie.
The Browns will have nearly two-thirds of a full season to evaluate their two rookie quarterbacks before deciding what to do with their two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Gabriel has been serviceable in his first two NFL starts but hasn’t shown the ability of a future starter.
He had every opportunity to win his first career start in London against the Minnesota Vikings, who had two crucial turnovers, including a fourth quarter fumble to give the offense a short field in a one score game. But with the Browns down 17-14 in the fourth quarter, Cleveland’s offense completely stalled, as Gabriel engineered three three-and-out drives in four opportunities and gained a total of 26 yards on 14 plays with the game on the line.
Last week, Gabriel threw the ball 52 times and averaged just 4.3 yards per attempt. After Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey sacked Gabriel, he pointed at the sideline and appeared to tell Stefanski to put Sanders in the game.
Gabriel has posted an average QBR of 36.6 through two starts, which would rank him 29th in the NFL.
When Will Shedeur Sanders Start In 2025?
Prediction: Week 14 versus the Tennessee Titans
The Browns will return home for a matchup versus the Miami Dolphins this week and travel to Foxboro for a road game against the New England Patriots before their Week 9 bye.
If Gabriel is unable to beat the Dolphins, it could mark the beginning of the end for the Browns’ rookie. Miami has the NFL’s worst run defense, allowing 168.5 yards per game and the Dolphins also near the bottom of the NFL in total defense and scoring defense through six weeks.
Following the bye week, Cleveland will take on the NY Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers. By the time that stretch ends, Gabriel could be 1-7 or 2-6 as a starter and the Browns will have likely seen enough on film to decide whether or not he will be their franchise quarterback.
The front office will then have to turn its attention to Sanders, who should be in line to start four or five games to close out the year. That would set up a must-watch showdown between Sanders and No. 1 pick Cam Ward, who has also struggled to be a difference-maker in his first taste of NFL action.
The road won’t be easy for Sanders, who would then take on the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals to close out the year.
If Sanders can squeeze out a few wins and put enough on film to show that he has the potential to be a future star, it could jump start the Browns rebuild. Cleveland has 10 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including two first-round picks and three fifth-round picks.
