Where Shedeur Sanders Sits on Browns' QB Depth Chart After Flacco Benched for Gabriel

The Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback change is reportedly not expected to have an immediate impact on rookie Shedeur Sanders.

After the Browns announced Wednesday that rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel will start over veteran Joe Flacco against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in London, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Sanders will remain the team's No. 3 quarterback with Flacco becoming the backup to Gabriel.

Sanders has served in a third-string capacity all season thus far after the Browns took him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft.

After delivering two highly productive collegiate seasons at Colorado, Sanders was widely expected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, and there was some thought that he may even push Cam Ward to be the first quarterback off the board.

However, after Ward went first overall to the Tennessee Titans, Sanders shockingly had to wait 143 more picks until his name was called at 144th overall.

The 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year then entered into a four-way competition in training camp for the Browns' starting quarterback job.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski seemed to favor the idea of going with Flacco out of the gate, and the 40-year-old veteran was ultimately named the starter.

However, with the Browns trading their other veteran quarterback in Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders, it opened the door for both Gabriel and Sanders to make the team as backups.

As the primary backup, Gabriel has already seen some action in two games this season, going 3-of-4 for 19 yards with one touchdown and no interception.

Gabriel wasn't considered a hot prospect entering the draft for many reasons, including the fact that he is just 5'11" and already 24 years old, but there is no denying what he did at the college level.

Playing at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon, Gabriel shares the FBS career record for touchdown passes with Case Keenum at 155, and he was named the Big Ten Most Valuable Player and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting last season after leading Oregon to a 13-1 record.

Gabriel is perhaps the safer and more pro-ready quarterback than Sanders, but moving Flacco into a backup role suggests Stefanski could be more willing to give Sanders a shot at some point this season if Gabriel struggles or gets injured.

It almost certainly won't come in Week 5 against the Vikings unless both Gabriel and Flacco get hurt, but if the 1-3 Browns are essentially throwing in the towel on the season and building for the future, it may only be a matter of time before Sanders gets a look too.