NFL Insider Says Browns 'Likely' Trade 1 of Shedeur Sanders, Flacco, Gabriel, Pickett

The most unique quarterback battle of training camp could end up with the Cleveland Browns trading one of them before the start of the regular season.

ESPN's Dan Graziano noted the Browns are "likely" to trade one player from the group of Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel prior to Week 1.

It's been assumed since both Gabriel and Sanders were drafted that someone was not going to be on the team by the time training camp came to an end.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry didn't rule out keeping all four quarterbacks, telling reporters last week that he can see a scenario where that plays out.

Their first order of business for head coach Kevin Stefanski and the rest of his staff will be figuring out who is going to start. Stefanski said on July 23 he would "like to make a decision sooner than later."

The competition did lose one cog for at least a few days when Pickett suffered a hamstring injury near the end of Saturday's practice. He will be reevaluated later this week to determine when he can get back on the field.

Sanders seemed like the odd man out in the first few days of training camp prior to Pickett's injury. ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi noted on Saturday that the Colorado standout hadn't received any reps with the first-team offense based on his tracking.

Flacco and Gabriel would seem like the two safest bets to remain with the Browns. Flacco's familiarity with the offense from the 2023 season and being able to step in as the starter gives him an advantage.

Gabriel was a top-100 pick in the 2025 draft, so giving up on him before he even plays a game would be a huge waste of a valuable asset.

That leaves Sanders and Pickett likely battling for the other quarterback spot on the roster. Pickett's injury opens the door for Sanders to get some time with the first-team offense.

Preseason performance could end up being an indicator of which quarterbacks play their way out of the competition. There could also be another team whose starter suffers a significant injury during training camp or preseason and needs to acquire someone capable of stepping in.

Cleveland will open preseason play against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8.