Shedeur Sanders has a few roadblocks preventing him from getting first-team reps with the Cleveland Browns offense -- as he currently sits fourth on the depth chart while being sidelined with an oblique injury.
Bleacher Report NFL insider Gary Davenport believes the Browns should remove one of those roadblocks in Sanders' path.
In a story in which he suggests one player each NFL team should cut before the 2025 season, he posits that the Browns should cut current QB1 Joe Flacco.
"Yes, right now, Flacco is the only healthy quarterback on Cleveland’s dumpster fire of a roster," Davenport writes. "He’s also the only signal-caller in town who has experienced any real success in the NFL.
"But he should absolutely not see the field for the Browns in 2025."
Davenport is more pessimistic than most about the Browns' chances of contending in 2026. He believes the organization should set its sights on the 2026 NFL Draft, even if it means taking some lumps in 2025.
"Cleveland has a pair of first-rounders in 2026—their own and Jacksonville’s," Davenport writes. "Flacco isn’t going to miraculously lead the Browns to the playoffs ala 2023. But he could win just enough games to muck up the team’s chances of drafting an elite quarterback prospect without using both picks to trade up."
Flacco is entering his 18th NFL season and is not expected to serve as more than a bridge to Sanders or fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. The 40-year-old appeared in eight games (six starts) with the Colts last season, completing 162-of-248 pass attempts for 1,761 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Sanders, the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was the first Browns QB to take snaps this preseason. In Cleveland's opener against the Panthers, Sanders impressed with 138 yards and two passing touchdowns on 14-of-23 passing while Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Gabriel were sidelined for various reasons.
Sanders suffered an oblique injury during throwing drills on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
MORE: Stats, highlights from Shedeur Sanders' preseason debut