The Cleveland Browns have built one of the NFL’s most confusing and combustible quarterback rooms ahead of the 2025 season. With four passers vying for the starting role—and none with a clear advantage—what was once seen as a fresh competition has now spiraled into dysfunction, according to former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III.
At the heart of this logjam is rookie Shedeur Sanders, a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft who’s become the face of the rookie class in jersey sales, yet currently sits fourth on the Browns’ depth chart. Despite his popularity and potential, Sanders is battling long odds in a room filled with veterans and uncertainty.
The situation became even more contentious after Griffin took to his podcast and social media to blast the Browns for what he called a “setup for dysfunction.” Griffin didn’t mince words: “They have $230 million that won’t play… and four quarterbacks fighting to start. Shedeur Sanders has been set up to fail,” he said.
The $230 million Griffin referenced is, of course, the fully guaranteed deal given to Deshaun Watson—who isn’t expected to play any time soon due to lingering injuries and off-field complications. Yet despite Watson’s clouded status, the Browns haven’t streamlined the position. Instead, they added chaos.
Kenny Pickett was brought in from Pittsburgh after an uneven stint with the Steelers. Joe Flacco, fresh off a playoff run with the Browns last season, was re-signed to provide experience. Then came Dillon Gabriel, drafted in the third round out of Oregon, followed by Sanders in the fifth.
On paper, the group appears deep. But in reality, it’s a messy mix of developmental projects and aging veterans who lack clear separation. And as Griffin pointed out, there doesn’t seem to be a defined plan—or patience—for how these quarterbacks will be evaluated or deployed.
“Shedeur Sanders is the fourth quarterback on the Cleveland Browns roster,” Griffin emphasized. “They’re setting him up to sink or swim with no real investment in his development. It’s not about talent—it’s about opportunity, and right now, he doesn’t have one.”
Despite that, Sanders has captivated fans. His jersey sales lead all rookies, proving he’s already connected with a national audience. That marketability could make him an asset beyond the field, but the Browns appear reluctant to embrace the momentum, instead burying him behind Gabriel, Pickett, and Flacco.
Meanwhile, Gabriel has already been given more reps, Pickett brings starter experience, and Flacco holds the most credibility based on last year’s late-season heroics. In such a tight competition, Sanders is the odd man out—not because of performance, but because of politics and pecking order.
For a franchise trying to stabilize after years of quarterback turnover and off-field drama, this strategy feels like another misstep. Rather than focus on clarity, Cleveland has created congestion. And while competition is healthy, this feels more like confusion than calculated depth.
Griffin’s criticism echoes what many around the league are thinking: that the Browns are mismanaging the most important position in football—again. And in the process, they’re risking the development of a quarterback in Sanders who, while raw, brings star potential and fan excitement the franchise could desperately use.
Unless a clear pecking order emerges soon, the Browns’ quarterback conundrum could spill into training camp and beyond. And if Sanders isn’t given a legitimate shot, the team may not just waste a valuable asset—they may watch him thrive somewhere else.