Daniel Jeremiah Predicts Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel to Start for Browns Week 1

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah doesn't think the Cleveland Browns should use much patience when it comes to their two rookie quarterbacks.

During a Thursday appearance on The Rich Eisen Show (1:20 mark), Jeremiah predicted either Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders will start Cleveland's Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals instead of veteran Joe Flacco.

"To me, I think Joe Flacco is just in case they don't feel like they can be competent in the position," he said. "Then you insert Joe. I think their Week 1 starter is going to be one of those two rookies. I really feel that way."

Flacco is 40 years old and not the long-term answer for the Browns at the position.

Given that backdrop and the reality this could be a rebuilding year for a team that went 3-14 in 2024 and is stuck in the same division as contenders in the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Bengals, it might be time to quickly see what Gabriel and Sanders can do.

"I think you have to learn this year," Jeremiah said. "… They have to know what they have in those two rookies."

Cleveland selected Gabriel in the third round and Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 draft. While it was difficult to argue with the overall value seeing how Sanders was once considered a surefire first-round pick, it was still rather jarring to see a Browns team that had just taken another quarterback end his slide.

But he might be thrown into the fire at the NFL level if he is starting Week 1 against Joe Burrow and the Bengals.

Frankly, it would still be something of a surprise if Cleveland just handed the offense over to one of the two mid-round picks. Flacco is the type of veteran player who can keep the team afloat in the early going all while serving as a veteran mentor for Gabriel and Sanders.

That will also give the coaching staff more time to evaluate which of the two rookies they trust more to operate the offense. That will be a more important long-term decision for the organization, and there may not be a need to rush it if contending in 2025 is something of a long shot.

Still, at least one NFL expert believes fans may see Sanders or Gabriel sooner than expected.