Cleveland Browns training camp preview 2025

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2 days ago

Training camp in the NFL is all about fighting for position. There are those fighting for starting jobs, and those fighting for roster spots.
The Browns, like the other 31 NFL teams, will have both when they start training camp in a couple of weeks. That includes the biggest of them all — a battle royale between four quarterbacks to be the starter when Cleveland opens the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Some of the camp battles aren't necessarily as high profile as the one at quarterback. That's the nature of training-camp battles.
Here's a look at three to watch when the Browns open training camp. And, yes, it starts with the big one.
Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders at QB
What hasn't already been said about this competition? The reality is that it may really be two separate competitions that merge into one. There's a strong sense that it will be either Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett who ultimately starts against the Bengals, although one of the two rookies — Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders — certainly could emerge as a major challenger for the job. The question at the start of camp will be how will Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees set up reps for the competition and how will it vary from the way it went during minicamp and OTAs? The joint practices against both the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles, a total of three, will also be telling. Those joint practices, plus the three preseason games, will be ample opportunities for all four quarterbacks to get competitive reps against players other than their defensive teammates.
Diontae Johnson, David Bell, Kaden Davis, Michael Woods II, others at WR
Jerry Jeudy is a "well, duh" member of the wide receiving corps. Cedric Tillman and Jamari Thrash might as well be in that category. DeAndre Carter seems like a lock as much because of his ability to return kicks and punts as anything. That means there are two to four spots potentially remaining for others to grab. It's just a matter of who those players will be. There are former draft picks David Bell and Michael Woods II, who have been hampered by injuries and spent time last season on the practice squad and will be fighting to make the roster. There will be practice squad holdover Kaden Davis, who had a solid offseason program. There are undrafted rookies Gage Larvadain and Luke Floriea, who opened some eyes during May and June. Then, of course, there's Diontae Johnson, the former Pro Bowler who's trying to keep his NFL career alive. That's the pool from which the Browns will try to fill out those final positions, a group that should continue to benefit from all of the reps the four quarterbacks will require in training camp.
Alex Wright, Isaiah McGuire, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at DE opposite Myles Garrett
The Browns' aggressive defensive front scheme lends itself to multiple players rotating through, so this is far from equal to a quarterback competition where one man emerges. In fact, a high-level camp battle between Alex Wright, Isaiah McGuire and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka can only serve to benefit the Browns in the long run because of the options it gives them. The better the camp battle among these three, the better the defense has a chance to be because of what it means for their depth in the pass rush. It would also mean creating a legitimate pass rush threat to line up opposite All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.
Chris Easterling can be reached at [e-mail]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns QB position battle tops 2025 training camp competitions