Derek Carr has announced his retirement due to potential surgery on his throwing shoulder, which could have sidelined him for the entire 2025 season. After sustaining a wrist injury in Week 14, he refrained from significant throwing activities until spring, experiencing discomfort in his shoulder related to that previous injury. Consultation indicated surgery might be needed, putting his 2025 season in doubt. Despite efforts by the Saints to restructure his contract, making it difficult to part ways, leaks to the media strained the relationship between Carr and the team. The Saints drafted Tyler Shough, hinting at a transition in leadership from Carr to Shough. Carr, a four-time Pro Bowler, played 11 seasons with the Saints and Raiders, accumulating impressive stats. His retirement benefits the Saints financially, but his future beyond 2025 seems uncertain. With Carr out, quarterback competitions are heating up across the league, notably in Cleveland, where rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel vie for the starting role alongside veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. The Browns’ quarterback battle promises to be intense and unpredictable as they kick off their offseason practices.
The quarterback competition at Browns’ training camp is wide open without a clear favorite, creating an intense battle among four similar players. The front office and coaching staff are eagerly awaiting for one of the promising young competitors to emerge as the long-term solution at the position. Let’s take a closer look at the four players vying for the starting job with the Browns, along with insights into three other NFL quarterback competitions that are shaping up.
Dillon Gabriel:
Despite the attention on Sanders as the quarterback with a chip on his shoulder for sliding to the fifth round of the draft, Gabriel appears to be even more motivated at this point. Although selected 50 picks earlier than Sanders, Gabriel enters rookie minicamp somewhat overshadowed by the media focus on his counterpart. His impressive college career as a first team All-American and recipient of major Big Ten awards like MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Quarterback of the Year is often overlooked due to concerns about his average arm strength, height, playing for multiple teams, and being a left-handed passer. However, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is viewed as a good fit for Gabriel’s skill set. The Browns hope Gabriel can quickly adapt, showcase his clean football style, and leverage his extensive college experience to potentially secure the starting role.
Shedeur Sanders:
Sanders is determined to prove his talent despite falling in the draft. He faces intense scrutiny beyond what is typical for a fifth-round pick, as he must demonstrate whether the Sanders family’s belief in his first-round potential aligns with the NFL’s evaluation. Walking into a quarterback room with another rookie selected ahead of him adds further pressure. The Browns will be looking for Sanders to work hard, learn the scheme swiftly, minimize errors, and exhibit leadership qualities that complement the team’s culture. Ultimately, the preseason performances and joint practices will play a significant role in determining the frontrunner for the starting position. Sanders faces an uphill battle due to his draft position, as history shows that fifth-round picks often face challenges in the league.
In the NFL, very few rookies manage to become high-level starters, let alone secure a Week 1 starting position. Dak Prescott is often cited for achieving this with the Dallas Cowboys in 2016, although it should be noted that significant injuries to Tony Romo and Kellen Moore paved the way for Prescott’s opportunity.
Joe Flacco, now 40 years old, remains the top contender to start training camp as the quarterback for the Browns. He is familiar with Coach Stefanski’s system and has demonstrated proficiency in executing it. Despite possessing the strongest arm on the team, Flacco lacks overall athleticism.
Given the circumstances with Deshaun Watson likely sidelined for the season and facing possible departure next year, Flacco is viewed as the ideal bridge quarterback in the interim. While he excels in pocket passing with accuracy and velocity, turnovers are a persistent concern. Until someone surpasses him on the depth chart or Flacco’s performance falters, he will retain the starting role.
Kenny Pickett is an intriguing figure, now on his third team since being drafted in 2022. Initially seen as a backup with potential, Pickett now has the opportunity to compete for the starting position, especially if he outperforms Flacco and other contenders like Gabriel and Sanders.
In the larger context, the Browns’ upcoming rookie minicamp will be crucial in determining if any of the rookie quarterbacks can quickly adapt to the team’s system and compete with the veterans. Should Pickett or another rookie show promise, the franchise may opt to invest in their development over retaining Flacco.
Shifting focus to other quarterback competitions, the battle between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson for the starting role with the Indianapolis Colts is anticipated to be intense, reminiscent of previous high-stakes scenarios in the league.
Jones had achieved some short-lived success in his previous role as a starter. This scenario is quite reminiscent of what is currently happening in Indianapolis, where Jones joined the Colts in March on a one-year contract to prove himself. His goal is to potentially take over from Richardson or motivate the young 23-year-old to elevate his game. Jones seems to have a favorable position with his lucrative one-year deal worth $14 million, including significant guarantees, well above the standard pay for backup quarterbacks.
It appears that Jones has been brought in with the expectation that he will secure the starting role, either during training camp or promptly stepping in if Richardson struggles during the season. The team now boasts a strong offense with talented players like running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs, along with the addition of Tyler Warren at tight end. Jones has proven his ability to lead a proficient offense when surrounded by a healthy supporting cast and adequate protection.
In contrast, Richardson has not consistently demonstrated the same capability, particularly evident in his disappointing performance in 2024 with a high number of turnovers and a low completion rate. The organization seems to be signaling that Richardson has the starting quarterback position by default, despite the likelihood that he will need to earn it during training camp.
Shifting gears to the New York Giants, the situation between Russell Wilson and Jaxson Dart is complex. The Giants are emphasizing patience and development for Dart, urging him to learn the nuances of NFL defenses and offenses before thrusting him into the spotlight. This cautious approach aligns with the historical challenges faced by quarterbacks selected in the later first round, as many have struggled to establish themselves as successful starters in the league.
Looking back at quarterbacks drafted between picks 20-32 over the past few years, the track record has been largely underwhelming, with names like Pickett, Lynch, and Manziel failing to live up to expectations. Only Love managed to navigate his way to a starting role after a period of waiting behind Aaron Rodgers. The Giants are treading carefully with Dart, recognizing the risks associated with prematurely thrusting a young quarterback into a starting role without adequate preparation and development.
Looking ahead to 2025, we will see how things unfold. Jackson has achieved great success despite sitting on the bench for three years, thanks in part to a flawed evaluation process that was still adjusting to the changing landscape of NFL quarterbacks back in 2018. Considering this, it is understandable that the Giants are taking a cautious approach with Dart. His performance at Mississippi did not directly translate to NFL success, reminiscent of Lynch’s transition from Memphis in 2015. However, the draft also values fundamental skills and experience. Dart’s abilities may compel the coaching staff to give him playing time, potentially skipping the traditional third-string quarterback role behind Jameis Winston. Instead, Dart could be given second-string snaps in training camp with the possibility of being promoted to a starting position based on performance or team needs.
