On September 7th, 2025, at 1pm eastern time, the Cleveland Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals to open the 2025 NFL season at Huntington Bank Field in downtown Cleveland Ohio. The Bengals are expected to have Joe Burrow start at quarterback against the Browns. The Browns starting quarterback for that game is up in the air and can be one of four quarterbacks currently on the Browns roster.

Veteran quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are splitting first team reps so far in practices this offseason. Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders were also getting their practice reps in organized team activities. It is highly unlikely for either rookie quarterback to start the season for the Cleveland Browns. The first 8 games for the Browns this season are difficult for any NFL quarterback much less a rookie. Who starts the season for the Browns is likely to come down to either Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett.

Many Cleveland Browns fans want Flacco to start the 2025 season because of the memorable 2023 playoff run he had with the team. But that is selective memory. Joe Flacco did produce and help win games in 2023. But he also turned the ball over a lot. Two back-to-back interceptions returned for touchdowns against Houston in the 2024 AFC Wildcard game made the loss look a lot worse than it was. And don’t forget that he will turn 41 years old next January.

Kenny Pickett already has 25 NFL starts with both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. His record is 15 -10 as a starting NFL quarterback. He also just turned 27 years old las month. He is the type of quarterback that can manage the game in a Kevin Stefanski offense. He won’t necessarily win you a game, but he won’t lose you the game either. He will protect the ball and operate within the framework of the offense. He will be the Cleveland Browns best option to start the 2025 NFL Season. But will he be the best option to finish the season? That remains to be seen.