The Cleveland Browns find themselves in a unique situation at the quarterback position, with no clear consensus on who will take the starting role. Opinions vary widely among media members and fans. Some believe veteran Joe Flacco deserves the job after leading the team to the playoffs, while others argue for Shedeur Sanders, citing his college accuracy and untapped potential.
Still others back Kenny Pickett, the former first-round pick, or Dillon Gabriel, who cost the team a valuable third-round selection and seems to have the support of head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Watson Fades from Spotlight as Titans Face Depth Crisis Behind Cam Ward
Interestingly, despite being the high-profile starter of the recent past, Deshaun Watson is largely absent from the current quarterback conversation. Even if Watson returns to health midseason, there appears to be little expectation that he will reclaim his starting role.
This signals a shift in the Browns’ internal evaluation and perhaps a readiness to move on, depending on how the quarterback battle unfolds through the preseason and early regular season.
Deshaun Watson (NFL)Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans face an opposite challenge. They have a clear starter in Cam Ward but are dealing with a depth crisis due to Will Levis’ season-ending surgery. The Titans’ current backup options, Kyle Allen and Tim Boyle, have limited experience and have bounced around the league without much impact.
This glaring need behind Ward has opened the door to potential trade discussions, particularly with teams that have a surplus at quarterback.
Browns May Trade Veteran QB to Titans Amid Strong Performances by Young Prospects
Reports have surfaced suggesting that the Browns might be willing to trade one of their veteran quarterbacks, especially as Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders continue to impress in early team evaluations.
This has led to speculation that either Flacco or Pickett could be moved to quarterback-needy teams like the Titans or even the Minnesota Vikings. Tennessee, in particular, might value Flacco’s experience or Pickett’s developmental upside as they try to stabilize their depth chart.
From Cleveland’s perspective, dealing a quarterback early in the season could serve multiple purposes. It would allow the team to consolidate its quarterback competition, ensure more practice reps for the remaining contenders, and potentially acquire valuable draft capital. With Levis injured, the Titans may be more willing to part with a stronger asset, making a trade mutually beneficial and increasingly likely as training camps progress.
