Joe Flacco Takes 1st-Team Reps Ahead of Pickett, Shedeur, Gabriel in Browns OTAs

Joe Flacco seemingly has the early leg up when it comes to the Cleveland Browns' crowded starting quarterback competition.

ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi reported that Flacco took the first-team reps at quarterback during 11-on-11 drills at Browns OTAs on Wednesday:

Flacco is set to battle Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders for the right to be the Browns' starting quarterback when the 2025 season begins.

Oyefusi noted that Pickett followed Flacco by taking first-team reps after him, which suggests the two veterans are ahead of the rookies early in the competition:

Flacco, 40, has the most experience and most impressive résumé of any of the Browns' current quarterbacks by a wide margin.

The Baltimore Ravens selected Flacco with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft out of Delaware, and he proceeded to spend 11 seasons in Baltimore, posting a 96-67 record as a starter.

Flacco is the Ravens' all-time leader in passing yardage (38,245) and passing touchdowns (212), and he enjoyed one of the greatest playoff runs of all time in 2012, leading Baltimore to a Super Bowl victory and winning the Super Bowl MVP Award.

After being supplanted by Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, Flacco achieved little success over the next four seasons with the Denver Broncos and New York Jets.

However, his career was resuscitated in November 2023 when he signed with the Browns after Deshaun Watson was placed on injured reserve.

Flacco was thrust into action shortly after signing, and he delivered, going 4-1 in five starts and completing 60.3 percent of his passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

In addition to being named NFL Comeback Player of the Year, Flacco helped the Browns reach the playoffs, although they were destroyed 45-14 by the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Round.

Flacco parlayed his Browns success into a contract with the Indianapolis Colts last season. He started six of the eight games he appeared in for Indy, going 2-4 and throwing for 1,761 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven picks.

The Browns overhauled their quarterback room this offseason, as Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe all departed the organization.

Also, Watson tore his Achilles last season and later re-tore it, requiring another surgery. As a result, he may not be able to play at all in 2025.

Cleveland responded by signing Flacco, acquiring Pickett in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, selecting Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft and taking Sanders in the fifth round.

The Browns are widely expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season, which suggests the rookies may have a legitimate chance to start, but Flacco perhaps gives them the best chance to be competitive right now.

Because of the sheer amount of options and how different they all are, the Browns' quarterback competition may be the most intriguing one to watch throughout training camp and the preseason.