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My fear is the same as some other posters I've seen. The Browns have set themselves up perfectly to draft a future franchise QB in next years draft in what at his time appears will be a strong QB class. Of course we still have to see how this upcoming college season plays out.
My worry is that one of these rookies plays "just well enough" that it convinces the FO and Haslam not to draft that QB next year. Then that rookie never fully matures and never progresses form there. It would be a blown opportunity they worked hard to get in the position to take advantage of.
I get what you're saying but for me to see one of these rookies take the Browns to the playoffs would mean they get a substantial amount of the starts. The last 10+ games as the starter at least. For me it would take a pretty big body of work to provide any evidence he may be the answer moving forward. As for myself too many times have I seen a backup come in and look great for a while. That's until the opposing teams get enough film on him to diagnose his weaknesses and exploit them. I would hate to see that mistake made here again.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
#gmstrong
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I worry about that as well.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
#gmstrong
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IMO I think the defense could be decent.
I would love to see one of the rookies win the starters job.
Records can be deceiving because it is a team game.
I want to see how Gabriel or Sanders plays. If one can show real potential it would be great. Then the two first rounders can be used on upgrades to other positions.
If the play is mediocre. Next year's QB class will be in play. And no matter which qb is drafted. High risk is involved.
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Legend
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Legend
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Potential is a funny thing. Often times it's never quite reached. And that to me is the problem.
Could you be somewhat more specific? How many games would it take for you to be convinced one of these two rookies is the answer at the QB position? In your earlier post you said "I would consider the season a success if a rookie quarterback could take the Browns to the playoffs."
That would take a lot of wins. I do agree with you that wins are certainly not the only measuring stick of a QB. But what are some measuring sticks per say would it take to convince you? I mean in terms of passing yardage, scrambling ability, completion percentage, TD to INT ratio and some of those innate abilities we see in great QB's that would indicate the Browns have found the answer?
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
#gmstrong
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JMHO, but I don't think we'll see a Browns rookie take the field until week 8. By that time, I believe the Browns will know that Pickett isn't the answer and Flacco is nothing more than a stop gap backup at best. The Browns face the Pats in week 8 followed by a bye and then the Jets in week 10 both on the road which will greatly reduce the pressure on the young signal callers. They then get a challenge with the Ravens at home before going to Vegas for the Raiders. It's the soft spot in the Browns schedule before the brutal 6 game closure to the season.
I think it's imperative that the club gets a good view of all the QB's so they'll either be committed to drafting one in the 1st round next year or not. It's time to stop hmm hawing around.
Just "KICKING THAT CAN DOWN the ROAD"
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Legend
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Right or wrong it is an eye test.
I would love to see a full season. That is why I want a guy to win the starter job by out playing the others in camp.
That will be a task. Flacco would be the guy most ready to start because of his resume. Pickett has to play better in camp than Flacco to start.
For Gabriel or Sanders to start the season. One would have to be undeniably better than the others.
If say Gabriel or Sanders wins the job out of camp then each game is an evaluation.
You expect mistakes. You want to see flashes of good play and weekly improvement.
Jayden Daniels had an unreal first season. That was a high bar. Hard to expect that. But as each week passes I think it will become clear.
Of course the media will miss nothing.
For myself I know what I am looking for. There is a complete picture that I want to see.
It begins with leadership and command. Then it becomes execution and results.
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Hall of Famer
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This team needs to win. If the Browns repeat a 3-win season Stefanski and Berry must go. I like both and agreed with their decision to go for it and try to get a franchise QB. Watson was just that in Houston. He wasn't here. But after these 2 drafted a QB the same size as most midget league QB's I don't want either of these 2 drafting a QB in 2026. Especially a QB in the top 3 picks.
The Browns do have a chance to be really good on defense. I like the run game but hated the decision to not bring back Chubb until Junkins was ready to take over. Now that looks like a colossal mistake. If the run game is not there, then this season can go sideways really fast.
I think Flacco will win the starting job, and I am hoping with a QB that can be competent with a strong defense and run game the team has a chance to repeat some 2023 magic. Any of those 3 phases not executing and the season will go south.
Only hope for Stefanski and Berry at that point is a rookie coming in and looking like a future franchise QB. I think Sanders by size alone has the better opportunity to be successful.
A bad season and no future franchise QB found in 2025 should equal the end of the Stefanski/Berry tenure and the 2 #1's and 1 in top 5 should really help entice another GM Coach combo that can hopefully pick out a decent QB.
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money." Margarat Thatcher
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My personal opinion is Pickett will start. Flacco is the insurance plan.
Remember how Jacoby Brissett played. That is how I expect Pickett will play. Pickett, like Brissett, will provide good play, nothing great.
As for the rookies, I see neither of them starting. There is no need. Next year's draft will be what it will be.
Let the rookie QBs develop and see what happens.
I hope that the Browns will not be desperate to draft a quarterback next year.
Gabriel and Sanders were not projected to be first-year starters. Let's see where the chips fall.
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Legend
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Legend
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I was hoping you would have some bar they should reach. Something tangible to support them being worthy of staking the teams future on. Something that would be a gauge to compare to other NFL QB's in order to measure their worthiness. I see that's not the case but thanks for your response.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
#gmstrong
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A third and fifth round shot in the dark was not a legitimate attempt to land a franchise QB. This was a terrible QB draft class and luckily the Browns didn't waste their best draft picks taking a huge gamble. If you're just looking for an excuse to lambaste this FO, you found one. But that's all it is, an excuse. Nobody in their right mind considers Sanders or Gabriel as having good odds of being NFL QB's. A remote possibility sure.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
#gmstrong
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Remember how Jacoby Brissett played. That is how I expect Pickett will play. Pickett, like Brissett, will provide good play, nothing great. That only works/worked with a run game that scares people. We have ?'s at RB (I don't like counting on rookies to come in and contribute right away, as a rule) and ongoing durability/reliability questions at Oline.
Last edited by oobernoober; 07/18/25 10:21 AM.
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
-PrplPplEater
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A big part of our run game problem last year was going away from the ZBS that our OL was best at. Ford and Strong are serviceable, but not elite. I’m hoping the Tennessee kid can contribute but he’s not a power back.
Now that we’ve switched to the old blocking scheme, we should have a better run game even without Mr. Fistybeatawoman.
![[Linked Image from i28.photobucket.com]](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c201/shadedog/mcenroe2.jpg) gmstrong -----------------
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