Browns have $41 million invested in 8 different QB’s and no clear path forward
Oct 10, 2025
The Cleveland Browns are paying 8 different quarterbacks a total of $41.6 million and only two of them are on the active roster.
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The Cleveland Browns decades-long quarterback saga took yet another twist on Tuesday when they
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traded veteran Joe Flacco to the rival Cincinnati Bengals. The team's decisions have cost them a lot
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of money over the years. All you got to do is look at this year's salary cap list
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Flacco, an 18-year veteran and Super Bowl champion, was a team captain, but he was benched last week
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for rookie Dylan Gabriel, who made his first start in a close loss to the Minnesota Vikings
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Gabriel was the 41st different quarterback to start a game for the Browns since 1999
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In fact, the Browns are paying eight different quarterbacks, a total of $41.6 million at the moment
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and only two of them, Gabriel and fellow rookie Shadur Sanders, are on the active roster
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Here's a breakdown of the players who are still employed by the team. The two rookies are joined by Bailey Zappi, who is in his fourth season in the league
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and currently on the Browns' practice squad. and Deshaun Watson. He's currently on the physically unable to perform list
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as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles. The eight-year veteran is making a fully guaranteed $35.9 million this season
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But when asked Wednesday if he'd see playing time this season, head coach Kevin Stefanski deflected
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He's been a great teammate from the jump, like I've told you guys
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in every quarterback meeting. And all those guys when you in that room Everybody preparing you know working hard working together So he doing a great job there As tough as it is for Browns fans to see 36 million tied up for
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one player this list could be tougher. The Browns are still paying four quarterbacks three of whom
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play for other teams. Jameis Winston signed with the Giants over the summer. Kenny Pickett was
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traded to the Raiders and Flacco is now a Bengal. That's nearly $3.4 million in total. The headliner
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in all of this may just be Sanders. When asked if he'd be the backup quarterback for Sunday's game
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against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Stefanski said he hadn't made up his mind yet. Browns offensive
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coordinator Tommy Reese said Thursday Coach Prime's son is making progress, but is it enough
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You know for Shadur we're looking for constant improvement throughout the season and he's done
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that. I mean, I think you see the growth and the familiarity of the offense and what we're asking
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of those guys. You know, I think the level of preparation it takes week to week, you know
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when you're putting a new game plan together, you know, that's a learning curve for all rookies
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So I think he's gotten more used to that, gotten up to speed, doing a nice job. Do the Browns have
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their future quarterback on the roster or will Sanders be starter number 42 in the near future
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Well, if the team knows, they're not saying. When asked about being the second quarterback
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on Thursday. Sanders said he knows it's a coach's decision, but also said you tend to get a bit more
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excited when you can see a light at the end of the tunnel. For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis
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