The Cleveland Browns are holding what could be the most open quarterback competition the NFL has ever seen, and veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson recently had a surprising prediction for which player might earn the starting job.
Johnson, who signed a veteran minimum contract with the Browns last month, shared some of his thoughts on his team’s quarterback situation during a recent appearance on the “Sport and Suits” podcast. When asked for his opinion on which QB appears to be atop the depth chart, Johnson pointed to Kenny Pickett.
“I think they are going to roll with Kenny (Pickett) for right now,” Johnson said, via Nick Shook of NFL.com. “I’ve been seeing Kenny going like right now with the ones. Then Joe (Flacco) will come in. I think they are probably going to roll with (Pickett) just to see like he’s coming off a season with Philly and having a Super Bowl. So, I think they are going to stick with him through the preseason. Then you know they can live with Joe and what he brings to the table.”
Johnson made the comments earlier this month, so it is possible things have changed since then. One recent report suggested that Joe Flacco looks like the favorite to win the competition.
A lot can happen during training camp and the preseason. Pickett and Flacco have an obvious experience advantage over rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. It is highly unlikely that Kevin Stefanski will want a rookie under center in Week 1.
Flacco is probably the safest choice, even if he is 40 and by far the oldest of the bunch. He went 4-1 as a starter for the Browns in 2023 and knows Stefanski’s offense.
It is rare for a team to carry four quarterbacks, but there has been talk that the Browns could do just that. That would probably be more likely to happen if Pickett won the job, as they will likely want Flacco to remain in the mix and may be hesitant to cut either their third- or fifth-round draft pick.
