You’d think the Browns’ QB room would finally be calm after sending Kenny Pickett packing and locking in Joe Flacco as QB1. Well, things never sail smoothly in Cleveland. Sure, Flacco will start Week 1, but the Browns’ brutal six-game stretch at the beginning of the season would also translate into needing another quarterback. That’s where backup Dillon Gabriel could contribute. But if Hall of Famer Cris Carter is to be believed, the QB drama is just getting started.

Carter appeared in a new podcast episode on ‘Fully Loaded’ on YouTube. Internet personality Shawn Meaike asked him if the Browns’ QB depth chart was settled. A simple ‘no’ would’ve sufficed, but instead, Carter stated, “Joe Flacco is 65, man.” Meaike proceeded to confirm, “So, Gabriel will get the nod if Joe doesn’t perform?”

“He’ll get the first chance,” Carter admitted. As much as you’d want to disagree with him, he has got a point. We all knew Flacco was always going to get the number one nod, but we also knew he wouldn’t start too many games. Age is not on the good side, and that comes with limited reps. After the first month or so, he’d wear down. And next in line? Rookie Dillon Gabriel.

But who would have a better chance at succeeding as a QB? Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders? Answering this question, Carter said, “Gabriel would have a better chance of being successful if the backup behind him wasn’t named Shedeur Sanders. Because Gabriel, when he gets in, is going to struggle. And the people know Shedeur is behind him. So, it’s just a matter of ‘Okay, let’s get through him and get to Shedeur.’ So, I don’t think the Browns fans will be fair. 

“Now, in every city, the most popular quarterback is the backup, except in Cleveland. It will be the third teamer. In every city, the favorite quarterback is the backup. Unless you got a superstar, you know, if you got Patrick Mahomes, you got Josh, you got Jalen, Lamar…”

Let’s be honest, Gabriel has got a high ceiling. But he is a rookie playing center for one of the worst-performing franchises in the league, if not the worst. Add the thin offensive line and receiving corps, and you’re bound to struggle. And when that happens, the fans might demand that Sanders be allowed to play instead. Hence, Carter speculated, “So, anything that he does that is not extraordinary. And it’s hard to play under those circumstances, he’s going to have to play ridiculously well for them not to go to Shedeur because of the pressure, the booing, the communication, what they’re going to be saying.

“Cleveland is not a 500 football team. So, how many games are they gonna give Joe Flacco? […] So, the first month, month and a half of the season, and then it’s going to be who’s better.” Regardless, one thing is for sure: the pressure on both QBs will be immense, but on Gabriel, it will be a little too much.

So, when you look at the depth chart, you might see a hint of clarity on the outside, but when you really dig deep, things aren’t settled.

Kevin Stefanski confirmed Shedeur Sanders’ place in the QB depth chart

Yes, the depth chart gave us no surprises: Joe Flacco as QB1, Dillon Gabriel as QB2, and Sanders as QB3. In fact, last week the HC confirmed that Sanders would be the emergency QB. We all knew it was going to come down to this ever since Pickett departed. But this is not your typical chart. We might see a QB3 making a jump to number one this very season. And that is very much a possibility in this case.

Shedeur Sanders is a walking contradiction, and so is the perception of him. Some genuinely believe he is only on the roster because of his name, and some genuinely believe he is the best QB on the roster. And Cris Carter? He falls in the latter category. “I think Shedeur is a better player. I don’t think they have the weapons and everything to protect him. I think he’s got some shortcomings. You know, I do think he can be an NFL quarterback, but he’s not been drafted in the right situation.”

And yes, with that pocket presence? You absolutely need good protection. And if the Browns can’t offer him that, he might not produce what he can. What do you think?