Cleveland Browns Quarterback Controversy: Who Starts Week One?

Cleveland Browns QB Room: Four Choices, No Clarity

There’s bad QB rooms, and then there’s the Browns 2025 QB room: a wild mashup of washed, unproven, and maybe magic. You’ve got Joe Flacco, ancient but recently capable. Kenny Pickett, still riding backup potential fumes. And two fresh names — Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders — each with fans dreaming of a rookie breakout.

Oh, and Deshaun Watson’s contract still exists like a bad ghost story. But for Week 1? Ignore that — the reality is these four names are the odds board, and it’s a bet you can’t ignore if you like chaos.

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Why Flacco Is the Favorite — But Makes No Sense

Let’s start with Flacco. The books have him as the slight chalk to start Week 1 — think +110 or so — because, well, he’s done it before. He stepped in, went full Joe Cool, got Cleveland to a playoff game, and got roasted by C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans for his trouble.

But what does starting Flacco actually get the Browns? Nothing. Best-case scenario: you’re 1–4 by Week 5, you yank him, and now you’re giving reps to Pickett or a rookie anyway. Worst-case scenario: Flacco strings together a few wins, you trick yourself into competing, then crash in November when it’s too late to see if Shedeur or Gabriel can play.

So yeah — Flacco shouldn’t be the Week 1 starter. But this is Cleveland, so don’t rule it out.

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Kenny Pickett: The Sensible Bridge Bet

If you must bet chalk, Pickett at 2-to-1 is the actual logical play. He’s young enough that you can pretend there’s a Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) redemption arc in there. He’s cheap, mobile enough, and unlike Flacco, he could be serviceable enough to play 17 games if the rookies are nowhere close.

He’s the obvious bridge. If he hits, you buy time. If he stinks, fine — Shedeur time. Either way, you get real answers, not just nostalgia.

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The Rookie Wild Cards: Shedeur or Gabriel?

Sanders is the sexy swing for the fences. Coach Prime’s kid comes with built-in hype, attitude, and a highlight reel that says “maybe.” If the Browns are actually honest about the state of this team (read: a five-win roster at best), giving Shedeur the keys immediately makes sense. Let him run, let him get hit, and find out if you’re drafting another quarterback in 2026.

Gabriel? He’s here too. He’s a long shot for a reason — right now he looks every bit the camp-arm insurance type, not an opening-day starter. Cross him off. If you’re betting Gabriel to start Week 1 at +500, you’re just burning money for the thrill of it.

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The Betting Play: Fade Flacco, Ride the Youth

So how do you actually play this market? Fade Flacco. He should never be the Week 1 guy if Cleveland’s being honest. If they start him, this rebuild is stuck in reverse.

Pickett at 2-to-1 makes sense if you believe in front office self-preservation. They’d rather have the cheap veteran-youth combo than the ancient statue with no future upside.

If you want the home run swing, Sanders at +350 or so is where the fun is. It’s a bet on the Browns punting on the season early and seeing what they have before they waste another year. And honestly? It’s probably the smartest football decision, which is why it’ll probably never happen in Cleveland.

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Final Word: What’s the Plan, Cleveland?

There isn’t one — that’s why it’s the Browns. But if you want to bet it, bet it smart: fade Flacco, fade Gabriel, grab Pickett as the bridge or Shedeur as the swing. Either way, you’re wagering on the same question: Does Cleveland know what it’s doing?

Probably not — but at least you’ll have a live ticket when they prove you right.

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Key Betting Numbers:

• Flacco to start Week 1: +110

• Pickett: +200

• Sanders: +350

• Gabriel: +500 (don’t do it)

 

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