No, they won’t. On Thursday, Browns GM Andrew Berry said there might be a scenario where the team keeps four quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster. I just can’t see this happening. Last year, Cleveland did this on cutdown day and a few days later had to cut Tyler Huntley only because they couldn’t find a trade partner for him. This whole question started because the Browns traded for Kenny Pickett, signed free agent Joe Flacco and drafted two young signal callers, one being Sheduer Sanders. Prior to the draft, there were some draft experts who projected Sanders as a first-round pick and there are many Browns fans who are convinced he has the best chance to be the starter for the Browns in 2025. Traditionally NFL teams will start the season with three quarterbacks on their roster. Last year the Browns were one of those teams, even though in prior years, they kept only two with a third on the practice squad in case of an emergency. For those years, the Browns knew their third stringer would be able to pass through waivers and signed to their practice squad. This year is different.

As training camp begins, Flacco and Pickett are competing for QB1, and Dylan Gabriel and Sanders are competing for QB2. Head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense relies on motion and play action. Both Flacco and Gabriel have more experience with this style of offense than Pickett and Sanders. This isn’t a knock on those two, they have plenty of time to increase their comfort level. As I see it, Flacco and Gabriel have the advantage. The quarterback competition has put the spotlight on all four. Here’s where the problem lies. In the NFL, the quarterback position is overvalued and because of this overvaluation it’s a position of great need. One of the four will have to be traded for the Browns to get value. Cutting a player is not an option and none will be able to pass through waivers to make the practice squad especially if the Browns feel Gabriel or Sanders is their quarterback of the future.

If Cleveland does keep all four, then they weaken another position group. History shows us, injuries hit certain position groups on the Browns. Last year it was the offensive line. In 2024 the Browns started five different quarterbacks. In previous years Cleveland started five different centers, six different linebackers and one year (2020) were signing offensive guards off the street late in the season. The league allows sixteen players on the practice squad. Ideally a team will occupy some of those spots with an emergency quarterback, a backup kicker, wide receivers, running backs, offensive linemen, defensive lineman, cornerbacks and safeties. The Browns also try and keep extra tight ends because of their heavy use in Stefanski’s offense. For the Browns to be successful in 2025, they can’t start the season with depth problems. Three quarterbacks is the only sensible option.