On Tuesday, May 20, a tweet sparked a rumor based on Mary Kay Cabot’s report that Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel will take the No. 1 and No. 2 reps for the Browns when Organized Team Activities begin.
Who Are the Quarterbacks Competing in Cleveland?
“In terms of their battling order in team drills, it will likely be Pickett and Gabriel No.1 and No.2, then Flacco and Sanders splitting the No.3 and No.4 reps at the outset,” Mary Kay Cabot wrote.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel will take the No. 1 and No. 2 reps for the Browns when OTAs open, per @MaryKayCabot
“In terms of their battling order in team drills, it will likely be Pickett and Gabriel No.1 and No.2 than Flacco and Sanders splitting the No.3… pic.twitter.com/ZptBfqXW4c
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 20, 2025
Browns OTA rumors placed Shedeur Sanders behind Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel, drawing sharp reactions from his growing fanbase. Many have stated that her report is far from reality—or rather, what reality should be.
The Cleveland Browns, a team in the National Football League (NFL), currently have several quarterbacks vying for position during OTAs.
Kenny Pickett: Pickett was a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, he was traded to Cleveland in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a former Browns quarterback.
In his NFL career, he completed 471 of 755 pass attempts. He was a Super Bowl champion with the Eagles. Pickett is known for his dedication, especially as shown by his grit and determination to continue playing last season, even while injured—a quality highly valued in a starting quarterback.
Dillon Gabriel: Gabriel, though untested in the NFL, brings an impressive college résumé that some believe justifies his high reps in OTAs.
One of these is that he became the eighth college quarterback to surpass 15,000 passing yards. He is also ranked second all-time in career college passing yards.
Joe Flacco: Flacco is a veteran of the game. Having won NFL Comeback Player of the Year, among other honors, Flacco brings experience from seven NFL teams, making him a strong candidate for the No. 2 quarterback position.
Flacco’s accolades include being a Super Bowl champion and MVP and having a 61.7% career passing completion rate. He was also the first player in NFL history to record 250+ passing yards and multiple touchdowns in each of his first five games with Cleveland in 2023.
Shedeur Sanders: Sanders was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, marking his first professional experience.
His late selection caused a stir in April, with many expressing that they expected him to be drafted earlier.
Why Was Sanders Placed Behind Others?
After the tweet blew up, there were several comments from fans questioning why Pickett and Flacco were ahead of Sanders in the quarterback lineup.
Despite fan praise, Sanders reportedly has a negative reputation among coaches and team staff. His alleged tendency to disregard instructions and avoid teamwork has made him a controversial figure, not easily embraced by teams.
While his football-family background could have influenced this behavior, it may have also hurt his chances of being named the starting quarterback. Additionally, the other quarterbacks ahead of him have more experience or have proven themselves more effectively on the field.
Shedeur Sanders Fans Express Concern Over Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco’s Browns OTA Rep Spots
Some fan comments regarding Shedeur Sanders’ situation include:
“We all know Shedeur is the best player out of the bunch.”
“No way they’re still giving Pickett a chance.”
“Pickett is a joke, come on.”
“So two successful NFL teams took a hard pass on Pickett—a man who cannot play QB without wearing his little grippy gloves—yet the Browns really want to start him as QB1 in 2025? Make it make sense.”
“If Gabriel even comes close to playing for this organization, there’s no saving them ever.”
Many fans have also questioned Flacco’s position on the quarterback roster.
Despite Pickett’s abilities, the above comments show that fans prefer Sanders. Some speculate that Cleveland is favoring Pickett because of his experience, rather than actual performance.
Others have suggested that Cleveland only scouted Sanders for publicity purposes and had little real intention of using him.
KEEP READING: Shedeur Sanders Exhibits His True Browns Colors In Conversation with Cam Ward
With all the engagement sparked by the tweet about Pickett and Gabriel ranking above Sanders, and considering the unwavering support from his fanbase, it’s clear Sanders has a strong backing. The Cleveland Browns may need to reconsider their quarterback rotation and find a way to give Sanders a more prominent role.
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