As this NFL preseason continues, the Cleveland Browns are entering a critical moment, navigating through one of the most chaotic QB battles. The entire roster is a beautiful diversity of challengers. It features Joe Flacco, a limping Kenny Pickett, plus two other impressive rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. With expectations for multiple playoff wins this season, the pressure mounts on head coach Kevin Stefanski to navigate this challenging landscape.
The Browns helped their cause by bolstering their back end with a trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick. At the moment, he’s the only proven starter in the secondary. With injury and doubt dotting the team’s QB room, that’s something that could severely hinder their dreams of competing in the next year.
Competing Quarterbacks
The Browns have managed to make their QB competition one of the biggest storylines heading into (and through) training camp. While Flacco is a solid addition in the experience department, the Ravens’ future undoubtedly lies with their younger players. One player that has struggled when healthy is Kenny Pickett. By contrast, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are just trying to break in.
Dillon Gabriel has earned a good bit of first-team practice time, though early returns have been described as a mostly uneven mix. His tenure has been described as “scattershot at best.” That creates skepticism about his preparedness for a starting job. The two rookies will have to pick it up early in preseason, or else they’ll get lost in the shadow of Flacco.
The Browns haven’t thrown caution to the wind. Or perhaps they intend to run all four quarterbacks through the regular season unless one of the rookies emerges as a definitive starter during the course of preseason. This approach demonstrates uncertainty and caution, as injuries continue to plague the team’s depth at the quarterback position.
“You can get hit by a car, seriously.” – Jerry Jones
Strengthening the Roster
The Browns have taken both preventative and reactive measures to improve their roster over the course of the offseason, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The offseason acquisition of veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick should help to shore up a secondary that will be tested in crunch time. If that ever was the case, injuries have done a number on this side of the roster, severely hamstringing some of their biggest names.
The offensive line could get major boosts with rookie Donovan Jackson added to the mix. Jackson plus the veterans Jackson+vet signings should help shore up areas of weakness along the front, real quick. It’s obvious the Browns utilize one of the deepest, most explosive offensive units in football. It remains to be seen if they’d be able to develop that cohesion with an evolving quarterback situation.
Despite their historical struggles, the Browns’ current roster suggests they have the potential to be competitive in the league. As long as they stay healthy, they definitely have a chance to succeed.
1. QB Stability at the quarterback position might just be the difference that changes them from recent pretenders to serious playoff contenders.
Expectations and Pressure
With the bar of success raised to several playoff victories this year, there will be great scrutiny on head coach Kevin Stefanski. He’ll have to develop a deep relationship with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. This partnership will be the key to maximizing this team’s offensive potential. Both men need to get on the same page pronto as they face into a make-or-break preseason.
On offense and defense, the Browns have gone big on finding talent. More than any other team, injuries will sink their hopes if they can’t avoid them. The biggest challenge still belongs to the coaching staff. They need to make sure that every athlete is primed for peak performance when it counts the most.