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When a team starts three different quarterbacks in the same season, it usually means one thing: instability - and often poor results. That was exactly the case for the Cleveland Browns during the 2025 NFL season. For the second consecutive year, Cleveland struggled to produce consistent results, leading to the dismissal of head coach Kevin Stefanski after six seasons with the franchise.
The move was not surprising. Entering the preseason, the Browns had four quarterbacks on the roster, and Stefanski insisted they all had equal opportunities to win the job. But while there were no shocking decisions, there were also no meaningful results.
Joe Flacco was benched after Week 4 and traded a week later to the Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie Dillon Gabriel started from Week 5 through Week 10 but failed to generate momentum or consistent production.
That opened the door for Shedeur Sanders, who took over as starter in Week 11. Sanders showed flashes and looked more composed than his predecessors, but the overall impact was modest. It is also worth noting that he never had a full opportunity to work with the first team offense until he was officially named the starter.
A potential opportunity with Ty Simpson
Despite a difficult performance in the Rose Bowl against Indiana, Ty Simpson is widely considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft class. Some evaluators view him as the second-best quarterback available.
"I think he does a lot of NFL things. He's very physically gifted, good arm, good athlete... From Weeks 2 to 8 he looked like a franchise QB prospect... I would take the risk. He flashed enough for me," said Mike Renner of CBS Sports.
With Stefanski's departure, Cleveland's front office opted for a clear offensive reset by hiring Todd Monken as the new head coach. Monken, who previously served as offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens and also had a stint with the Browns organization in 2020, brings a more aggressive and vertically oriented offensive philosophy.
In 2023 and 2024, Baltimore's offense ranked among the league's top five under Monken's direction. Now, he faces the challenge of implementing that system in Cleveland - and selecting the quarterback who will lead a new era. The expectation is that the competition could involve Deshaun Watson and Sanders, but there is room for surprise.
Neither Watson nor Sanders was brought in specifically for Monken's system. At 59 years old, the new head coach may prefer to begin his tenure with a quarterback of his own choosing. That scenario becomes plausible given that Cleveland holds two first-round picks, including the 24th overall selection - a spot that could be used on a quarterback such as Simpson.