"It's tough": Baker Mayfield makes feelings known on Shedeur Sanders' Browns future & potential success in Cleveland after Joe Flacco gets named QB1

NFL: Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles - Source: Imagn
NFL: Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles - Source: Imagn

Cleveland Browns fans finally have the answer to one of the biggest questions of the offseason: who will be their starting signal-caller for the 2025 NFL season?

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On Monday, the Browns named Joe Flacco as their Week 1 starter. The veteran beat out competition from rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, as well as Kenny Pickett.

It was a bitter pill for Sanders, who produced an impressive performance in the preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers but was then limited by injury.

Former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield had some advice for the Cleveland rookie.

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"I mean, it's tough," Mayfield told USA Today's Mackenzie Salmon on Wednesday. "Since he was young, he had the spotlight on him, so people are going to be overcritical of every little thing. So, I mean the cliche, 'control what you can control.'
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"As a quarterback, that's how you win a football game and how you elevate the guys around you. I think he himself has all the pieces he needs to have success and it's about the time and place."
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Mayfield spent four seasons with the Browns and led them to their first playoff victory since 1994. However, after the franchise traded for Deshaun Watson, Mayfield requested a trade and was dealt to the Panthers.

NFL analyst makes an interesting prediction about the future of Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders

Ever since the news of Joe Flacco becoming the Browns' QB1 emerged, many have wondered what's next for Shedeur Sanders. NFL analyst John Middlekauff predicted that Dillon Gabriel will start a regular-season game before Sanders. On the "3&Out" podcast, he said:

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"Joe Flacco was always going to start week 1 for the Cleveland Browns. That's not the story. The only story is now what's going to be their quarterback depth chart when the season starts?
"Dillon Gabriel's gonna start a game in the regular season, assuming they're both healthy before Shedeur Sanders, and everyone's gonna freak out. Yet this organization chose this guy ahead of him for that reason. I think this circus is going to grow dramatically."

It'll be interesting to see if Shedeur Sanders gets the opportunity to start any games for Cleveland in the regular season.

Cleveland Browns Nation! Check out the latest Cleveland Browns Schedule and dive into the Browns Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.

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Edited by Krutik Jain
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