Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) passes against the Houston Texans in the first quarter at NRG Stadium. credits: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports In the aftermath of one of the more tantalizing NFL drafts in recent memory, a slew of teams face lingering questions with four months remaining in the offseason.
Do the Cleveland Browns have their franchise quarterback(s)? What do the Atlanta Falcons do with the highest-paid backup in the league? Are the New Orleans Saints already thinking ahead to 2026? And … hello, Steelers?
These are a few of the wonderings that teams and fan bases will have to sit with until the grueling football-less summer comes to a close.
Cleveland Browns Quarterbacks
We all know the Shedeur Sanders buzz during the draft will eventually subside. From the epic slide down the draft board to the ill-conceived prank call from a rival defensive coordinator’s kid, the Colorado quarterback experienced a whirlwind of emotions and a nosedive not many saw coming.
He sounds like a Cleveland Brown already.
It’s likely General Manager Andrew Berry is fighting for his job, even with a new contract signed last summer. The horribly failed Deshaun Watson experiment is also his to own.
But now Berry and company have to make a decision. In the crowded Cleveland quarterback room, who takes the season-opening snap?
Watson suffered a ruptured right Achilles in October and a subsequent setback in the recovery process in January. He’s likely to miss the entire 2025 season. Behind him: 40-year-old Joe Flacco, journeyman Kenny Pickett, Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, whom the team drafted in the third round—two rounds ahead of Sanders.
For a franchise that has historically mismanaged quarterbacks, it wouldn’t be an offseason without question marks under center. Despite the use of two draft picks to help turn around the team, FanDuel Sportsbook has Flacco as the favorite to start the year (+116), followed by Pickett (+220), Sanders (+370) and Gabriel (+830). To the surprise of nobody, the Browns are the runaway favorite to finish last again in the AFC North (-200).
Kirk Cousins Trade
Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) and Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell talk after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images A name linked to the Browns in the pre-draft cycle was that of veteran Kirk Cousins, the 36-year-old backup quarterback scheduled to collect a base salary of $27.5 million in 2025. Just months into his Atlanta Falcons career, Cousins was benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. Given Cleveland’s collection of potential starters, it’s unlikely Cousins will waive his no-trade clause to join that train wreck.
Cousins, who threw for 18 touchdowns and a league-leading 16 interceptions last season, has expressed his desire to not only continue playing but be a starter.
Atlanta, which is “comfortable with keeping Cousins on the roster as Penix’s backup,” bypassed the March 17 deadline to release Cousins and avoid the $10 million bonus he was entitled to. The Falcons also kept him through the NFL Draft. After Cleveland made it known it wasn’t interested in Cousins’ services, the Pittsburgh Steelers—who have been heavily linked to Aaron Rodgers—appear to be Cousins’ last hope to start before 2025. If Pittsburgh passes, he’ll likely remain a Falcon barring any last-second trades.
New Orleans Saints Quarterback Situation
Dec 29, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) walks the field before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images Since Drew Brees, the best player to ever don the black and gold in New Orleans, retired at the end of the 2020 season, the Saints have started Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill, Trevor Siemian, Ian Book, Andy Dalton, Derek Carr, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. Winston gets extra credit for starting for both the Browns and Saints.
Carr, who’s dealing with a shoulder injury and isn’t expected to be on the roster after 2025, will have a replacement in 2026. It’s fair to say the franchise wasn’t thinking of that replacement in this year’s draft.
With the 40th pick, New Orleans selected Tyler Shough, a 25-year-old, six-year college player, as its probable starter this season. That has the Saints among the favorites to miss the playoffs and contend for the top overall pick next year. For a team in desperate need of its next savior under center, 2026 is shaping up to have favorable options. They could include Arch Manning, Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, LaNorris Sellers and Cade Klubnik.
