Report: Shedeur Sanders likely to make Browns roster

The Cleveland Browns will turn back to Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback this year, as the former Denver Broncos gunslinger continues to play in his bounce around the NFL now at 40.

The Browns’ decison to go with Flacco impacts a former Colorado Buffaloes star, Shedeur Sanders, who is one of the six quarterbacks currently competing in camp for Cleveland.

The most recent depth chart was in this order: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Sanders, and then the injured Deshaun Watson. Former Pro Bowler Tyler Huntley is still on the roster.

It’s no surprise that both the rookies in Gabriel and Sanders are expected to make the roster, but the real decison for the Browns is over Pickett, this is according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

“Even though they named their starter today, they haven’t named their backup. I expect them to carry four quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster… they’re gonna keep both rookies and Flacco, so we’re really talking about Kenny Pickett, and I expect he makes the roster because quarterbacks are currency… maybe somebody calls about one of the rookie quarterbacks,” Schefter shared on Monday’s NFL Live.

There’s an increasing feeling that the Browns will carry four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. pic.twitter.com/tGwr4tvXOS

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 18, 2025

Sanders, who started for the Browns in their first preseason game against the Panthers, went 14-for-23 with 138 yards and two TDs. He also added four rushes for 19 yards. The fifth-round pick exited in the third quarter as the Browns won 30-10.

Then the Browns beat the Eagles 22-13 on Saturday in their second exhibition contest behind Dillon Gabriel. The former Oregon leader connected on 13 of his 18 passes for 143 yards, but he tossed a pick and no touchdowns.

Sanders was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year last fall for an awesome season where he ranked in the top 10 nationally in completion percentage (74%), passing yards (4,134) and touchdowns (37) while breaking Colorado school records for passing touchdowns, passing yards, consecutive games with a touchdown pass, quarterback rating and completion percentage. He had a surprising fall in the NFL Draft, pushing him to the Browns as the team’s second rookie quarterback.

Gabriel also had a great college career, and he went where he was expected to in the third round.

Pickett has struggled in his short NFL career and is looking for a second chance.

Then there’s Flacco, who started six games for the Colts last year after five games with the Browns in 2023, pushed the team into the playoffs, and he was named comeback player of the year.

We’ll see who gets action for the Browns in their final preseason game on Saturday against the Rams. Huntley is the only guy who has gotten snaps in both games so far, as the team has also dealt with injuries at the position, making the already confusing battle all the more chaotic.

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