The battle for the Cleveland Browns backup quarterback job has turned into a soap opera involving the team's two young draft picks. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday, August 18, that the Browns will name veteran quarterback Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback for the team's September 7 regular season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. In the running to be Flacco's Week 1 backup quarterback are Kenny Pickett, who was traded to the Browns in March, and 2025 NFL Draft picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.