Joe Flacco will be the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback to begin the 2025 campaign. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski named Flacco the starter for the team's Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals over Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

Dillon Gabriel, taken in the third round, and Shedeur Sanders, taken in the fifth, aren't necessarily battling to be the starting quarterback for the Browns. However, both rookies are jockeying for a higher spot on the Browns quarterback depth chart and to be the backup on the game day roster.

The third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft made his preseason debut in Saturday's contest with the Eagles ,finishing 13 of 18 for 143 yards with an interception, which was returned for a 75-yard touchdown by Andrew Mukuba, ending his day with a 72.2 passer rating.