Browns name vet Flacco starter … It was the NFL’s worst kept secret of the pr-season, but Cleveland has ended the drama early and named veteran Joe Flacco as their starting QB to open the season. The Browns play cross-state division-rival Cincinnati on September 7th. Flacco gets the nod over fellow vet Kenny Pickett and rookie draft picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Left unsaid by the Browns is which of the three will be the designated back-up. The Brows also haven’t stated conclusively that they will in fact keep all 4 QBs when teams cut down to their opening day 53-man roster next Tuesday.
And with the Browns decision in the books, the league is still waiting on QB decisions from New Orleans and Indianapolis. The Saints are deciding between Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough, while the Colts’ choice is between Anthony Richardson and former Giants’ starter Daniel Jones. None have been all that impressive this fall meaning that both the Saints and Colts could very well be looking at the position early at the 2026 draft. Meanwhile, there is no drama involved in the situations of this year’s two QBs selected in the opening round. Cam Ward will be the unquestioned starter for Tennessee despite a less than overwhelming pre-season in which he completed just 7 of 15 passes in the Titans’ two games this month. On the other hand, Jaxson Dart, who has had a terrific fall, will not start for the Giants with Russell Wilson entrenched as the #1 guy in New York, although it is looking increasingly likely that it is actually a question of when, not if, Dart ultimately gets the nod.
