Nothing is certain with the Cleveland Browns quarterback room in 2025. However, rookie Shedeur Sanders will get the start in NFL Preseason Week 1 on Friday vs. the Panthers at 7 p.m. ET.
Sanders will have a chance to move his way up the depth chart, as he's currently playing with the reserves in Browns Training Camp.
Sanders was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, two rounds below Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel. Below, we'll breakdown our expectations for Sanders' first NFL start on Friday, including Sanders' passing yards projections on PrizePicks.
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Browns QB Depth Chart for Preseason Week 1
Although the Browns drafted two quarterbacks, they also recently signed Tyler Huntley. Huntley enters his third team in three years after filling in behind Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in 2024.
Sanders is in line to get the majority of the snaps on Friday, as Huntley was just signed this week, and no other quarterbacks are available.
Joe Flacco is currently listed as theBrowns QB1 due to Deshaun Watson’s injury, but he'll sit out in the team's first preseason game. Minor injuries to QB Kenny Pickett and Gabriel have allowed the opportunity for Sanders to start as the veteran Flacco sits.
Shedeur Sanders to Play Majority of Snaps vs. Panthers
Friday, August 8 marks the preseason opener for both the Browns and Panthers in NFL Preseason Week 1. With Bryce Young taking limited reps in front of Panthers fans, all eyes will be on the Colorado graduate, who's slide from a top 10 pick down to the fifth round was one of the Draft's biggest stories this year.
All signs are pointing towards the fifth-round pick playing most of the team’s opener, with Huntley taking a limited number of snaps. Sanders is projected for 120.5 pass yards and 6.5 rush yards on PrizePicks for NFL Preseason Week 1 vs. the Panthers.
Flacco, Pickett, and Gabriel are out, leaving Sanders and Huntley as the only available quarterbacks, with Huntley unlikely to make it through roster cuts.
In addition to those quarterbacks, the Browns will not play their top two starting WRs — Jerry Jeury and Cedric Tillman — in NFL Preseason Week 1. That means he'll be playing with the second team receivers that he's had more familiarity with in camp.
Sanders has outperformed Gabriel in training camp, according to many reports, however he has not played with the first team in camp. The Browns third-round pick may be listed ahead of Sanders, but the 23-year-old has a chip on his shoulder after sliding into the fifth round.
Carolina may not put out their top defense, but it’s still a learning experience for Sanders.
Cleveland’s preseason slate continues on Saturday, August 16 in Philadelphia. If Sanders earns another start, he’ll have to do so against the reigning Super Bowl Champions. The Browns close preseason at home on Saturday, August 23 as the Los Angeles Rams come to town.
How Many Games will Shedeur Sanders Start in 2025?
The Browns have only made the playoffs twice in the past five seasons. Head coach Kevin Stefanski remains in charge on a team that went 3-14 last season after making the playoffs the year prior. Baker Mayfield’s Cleveland tenure is long gone as the Browns are now stuck with their $230 million guarantee to Deshaun Watson.
Watson’s injury resulted in the team drafting two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, the starting spot is up for grabs, although Flacco is expected to start in Week 1.
Flacco averaged 251.5 yards per game in seven starts in 2024, but with the Browns track record, it wouldn't be a surprise to see another QB on the depth chart take the reins.
Sanders is projected for 2.5 regular season games started on PrizePicks NFLSZN game, where you can make More or Less picks on season-long fantasy football stats.
Sanders performance in Preseason Week 1 will directly impact his chances to start three regular season games. Each coach has their own preseason strategy, with Stefanski opting to give his young QB a spot start.
Browns Starting QB: What to Expect
Currently, Flacco is listed as the team’s QB1 and is slated to start in Week 1.
The 40-year-old has been in the league since 2008, returning to Cleveland after his Comeback of the Year season in 2023, and a solid year in 2024 for the Colts.
Kenny Pickett may have just won a Super Bowl ring, but he did it as a backup to Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. Pickett was underwhelming in two games for the Eagles last year, but he does bring thre years of NFL experience across the Steelers and Eagles.
The Browns face a gauntlet to open the regular season. They open at home against their in-state rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals. From there, they play five straight teams that made the playoffs last season.
It’s sink or swim as Sanders fate is determined by his preseason performance along with how Flacco and the rest of the new faces in the Browns QB room fare as the season progresses.
