Cleveland Browns QB Drama: Gloves, Grit, and a Depth Chart in Disarray
<strong>Quarterback Room or Casting Call?</strong>
The Cleveland Browns’ current quarterback situation feels more like the setup for a gritty sports movie than a professional NFL roster. Kenny Pickett, once seen as Pittsburgh’s chosen one, now finds himself rebooting his career in Cleveland. His arrival at the Browns’ minicamp, gloved and guarded, comes with pressure to revive a reputation still stained by his struggles in 2024. At the same time, Shedeur Sanders—boasting a top-tier college record and NFL bloodline—sits buried as QB4, leaving fans wondering what went wrong.
<strong>Pickett’s Pressure Cooker</strong>
The Browns traded for Pickett despite his underwhelming 2024 campaign: just 291 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a 59.5% completion rate. The move was a gamble on potential, hoping to relive his glory days at Pitt where he threw for over 12,000 yards and 81 touchdowns. But training camp tells a different story. Pickett is already working behind seasoned veteran Joe Flacco, who proved last year he still had some magic left with 1,761 yards and 12 TDs.
football things are happening pic.twitter.com/3eDK667dE6
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 7, 2025
<strong>Fans Weigh In</strong>
Online reaction to Pickett’s arrival has been fierce. His small hands—measuring just 8.5 inches—became an instant talking point, with one viral post saying, “Kenny hands man that shit embarrassing.” Others mocked his glove-wearing habit, questioning his durability and fit in a rugged division like the AFC North.
<strong>The Shedeur Sanders Snub</strong>
Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, is navigating a rocky start to his professional career. After a stellar college run that saw him rack up 4,134 passing yards, 37 touchdowns in 2024 alone, and a 70.1% completion rate, many expected him to be a top pick. Instead, he fell to the fifth round and now finds himself behind not only Flacco and Pickett but also third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Critics argue the Browns are setting Sanders up to fail. He missed the Combine and reportedly came off poorly in interviews—factors that may have hurt his draft stock. Yet his college record and Golden Arm Award suggest he deserves better. Commentators like Robert Griffin III have been vocal, saying the Browns are giving him almost no shot at success.
<strong>Stripped of His Identity?</strong>
To add insult to injury, Sanders didn’t even get his preferred jersey number. No. 2, synonymous with his brand and college career, was handed to a veteran. Instead, he’s been assigned No. 12—a subtle but significant signal that he’s not a priority. Even NFL stars like Travis Kelce and Tom Brady have shown public support, but so far, there’s no indication Cleveland is changing its stance.
<strong>Legacy or Logic?</strong>
In Cleveland’s quarterback chaos, it’s becoming clear that experience is being favored over potential. Pickett, still trying to shed the ‘Steelers reject’ label, is clinging to whatever momentum he can muster. Sanders, facing a brutal uphill climb, must impress in every camp rep just to survive. For fans in the Dawg Pound, this QB saga is less about hope and more about watching a power struggle unfold—where only one man will get the shot, and the rest may be cast aside before the season even starts.
<strong>The Final Question</strong>
Is this just standard NFL politics, or is Cleveland truly setting up Shedeur Sanders to fail? The debate rages on, both in training camp and across social media.