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Let’s take a look at the Browns’ QB situation.

It took a couple more days than expected, but Shedeur Sanders is officially an NFL quarterback.

Selected 144th overall in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns, Sanders finds himself in a peculiar situation. Typically, fifth-round quarterbacks are never put in a position to start their rookie season, but the Browns find themselves in limbo at the QB position. Shoveling $200+ million at DeShaun Watson after his sexual assault scandal proved to be a big mistake, as the former Clemson quarterback regressed greatly during his time in Cleveland before rupturing his achilles tendon in week seven of the 2024 NFL season.

Watson will likely be out for the remainder of the 2025 season, but even if he does recover, it’s looking like the Browns are ready to cut their losses and move on from the controversial quarterback. As a result, the team has brought in four new quarterbacks, including Sanders, to compete for the starting job. Let’s break each of them down to see who’s the frontrunner to start in Cleveland this season.

Joe Flacco​

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Flacco is a familiar face in Cleveland, stepping in for Watson after he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2023. The former Super Bowl MVP slid in seamlessly to the Cleveland offense, leading the Browns to a 5-0 record to end the regular season, eventually losing in the Wild Card game to Houston. Flacco’s heroics in Cleveland earned him the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year and a lucrative one-year contract in Indianapolis last season. Browns GM Andrew Berry took a page out of his own book, once again bringing in Flacco to quarterback for Cleveland after another Watson injury in early 2025.

With 17 years of NFL experience and a Super Bowl MVP under his belt, Flacco is the likely frontrunner to start in Cleveland this season, at least to start the season. The only glaring weakness about Flacco is his age. The 40-year-old quarterback has been doing this for a long time, and Father Time comes calling for everyone eventually, which the other three quarterbacks can use to their advantage.

Kenny Pickett​

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Pickett shined during his time at Pitt, leading the Panthers to an ACC Championship in 2021, but has struggled since coming to the NFL. The Steelers took a flyer on the local kid with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 Draft, but Pickett had a 1:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 62.5% completion ratio during his two seasons in Pittsburgh. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin ran Pickett out of town ahead of the 2024 season, where he landed with the eventual Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, backing up Jalen Hurts.

After one year of back-up duty, Berry and the Browns acquired Pickett in a trade from the Eagles for fellow QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick in 2025. The Browns clearly see something in Pickett, or they shouldn’t have traded for him. If he can clean up his interception issues and revert back his 2021 form at Pitt, he could realistically start in Cleveland in 2025.

Dillon Gabriel​

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Along with Sanders, Gabriel is one of two rookie quarterbacks that Berry brought in to compete for the starting job. The former Oregon quarterback had an elite 2024 season in Eugene, throwing for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns, leading the Ducks to an undefeated 12-0 regular season and Big Ten Championship in their first season in the conference, before eventually getting smacked by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

Gabriel was considered one of the top ten quarterback prospects in this year's draft, but many eyebrows were raised when Cleveland selected Gabriel with the 94th overall pick in the third round, significantly higher than Sanders.

Gabriel is your prototypical college quarterback in the West Coast offense. He’s got an alright arm and loves to check it down, and doesn’t mind relying on his run game. He also has a good football IQ and enough talent to make a roster.

Shedeur Sanders​

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In a group that includes a Super Bowl MVP, Sanders may be the most famous quarterback on this list, which says a lot. The former Colorado quarterback and son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders worked miracles with the Buffs, helping to dig what was a 1-11 team before he arrived into one of the top programs in the Big 12. Sanders won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year awards last season, throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns with the Buffs in 2024.

Although Sanders' slide in this year’s draft was unprecedented, it sounds like it was almost entirely non-football related. After a series of bad interviews in the run-up to the draft, NFL teams had concerns about the former CU quarterback. Sanders’ talent is undeniable, and he’s surely one of the most naturally talented quarterbacks on the Browns’ roster. Throughout training camp, he’ll have to showcase that talent and ability to handle adversity if he wants to see the field in 2025.

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With five (including Watson) quarterbacks rostered by Cleveland, it seems likely that one will be cut in training camp to make additional roster space. Flacco is already a lock to stay on the roster, so one of Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders will be on the chopping block. As to which of Pickett, Gabriel or Sanders will be released, it’s anyone’s guess, and we’ll probably have to wait until the end of preseason football to see.

Of the two younger QBs that do make the roster, they’ll get ample opportunity to see the field in 2025. The Browns are a rebuilding team, so there’s a good chance that head coach Kevin Stefanski will rotate through his quarterbacks at the end of the season if the Browns are eliminated from playoff contention early.

TD;DR - Sanders could realistically land the starting job in Cleveland at some point this year, but as of now, he’s got bigger fish to fry. Focus on making the 53-man roster first and foremost, and take it from there.

by RylandScholes
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New CU video: "We Ain't Hard 2 Find Showcase / NFL Draft" ... Jordan Seaton: “As far as, like, physical ability, I feel like I changed my body up a lot” ... Top CU 2026 NFL Draft prospects on on the defensive side of the ball ...

Stuart
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Scott has always been a role model, on and off the court.

Josh Scott, one of the greatest players in Colorado Buffaloes basketball history, expressed his full self to the world today.

The 31-year-old revealed on social media Friday evening that he’s “living openly and unapologetically” as a bisexual man.

A local recruit from Palmer Ridge, Scott was the program’s highest rated recruit in a generation and surpassed every expectation. The 6’10 forward stepped onto campus as a two-starter, a double-double machine who would average nearly 14 points and 8 rebounds across 124 career games.

Scott was a two-time First-Team All-Pac-12 selection, a one-time All-Defense pick, and most importantly led the Buffs to three NCAA Tournament appearances. (One of the great what-ifs in CU basketball history is if Derrick White was eligible for Scott’s final season, as the future NBA Champ had to redshirt after transferring from Division II UCCS.)

Scott tried his hand at NBA Summer League, but ultimately pursued a professional career overseas. He spent one year in North Macedonia, then headed to Japan where he’s played ever since. He’s been a staple in the B-League, winning the 2022 title as his crowning achievement.

In his coming out, Scott expressed himself clearly in his Facebook post:

“This is me-fully and unapologetically.”

Today, I am living openly and unapologetically as a Bisexual man. God made me exactly as I am, and I am proud of who I am.

For too long, I spent too many a dark time trying to fit into other people’s molds, shrinking myself to make others comfortable. I’m done with that. I refuse to make myself small to fit into spaces where I belong fully. God quite literally made me too tall to walk quietly through life!

Basketball has been my entire world for as long as I can remember. I have poured my heart, my time, and my entire being into this game. And I have been great at it—I am great at it. Striving always to be known not only as a great player, but as a great person.

Over the past few years, I have quietly endured discrimination, intimidation, harassment, and false narratives. All in an effort to protect my career, my family, my friends, my peace, and the life I worked so hard to build. I sat in silence, hoping that by staying quiet, I could shield everything and everyone I cared about.

But what I have learned is this: I can’t control whether the world accepts me. What I can control is how I accept and love myself.

I am the same player. The same person. The same leader. The same friend, teammate, and competitor I have always been. My resume speaks for itself. Nothing about me has changed! Except now, I live my truth openly.

What I have been through could have broken me. But it didn’t. It has been building me. They didn’t take my strength, my pride, my voice, my work ethic, my character, my values or my talent. If anything, they gave me a deeper passion and an even greater strength to overcome.

For every bit of pain and darkness I have experienced, I have found even more overwhelming love and support. Even when I don’t understand the journey, I know this: Light always beats darkness. Truth and love are more powerful than hate and fear.

To anyone out there feeling pressured to hide or compromise who they are—hear me. You are not alone. You are worthy. You are powerful. You deserve to take up space, just as you are. And you deserve to have it all!

I fully intend to continue my playing career. Though no one knows the future! I know I have had an amazing act one. And act two? I know will be great—if not greater! I will stand up, keep learning, keep teaching, keep coaching, and keep fighting for the next generation.

This is my truth. This is my life. This is me imperfect, whole, and unapologetic.

And I’m just getting started.

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Scott was already a role model for those who grew up during his playing days. Now it’s even more important to celebrate him, his impact on those around him, and his openness as his full, unapologetic self.

by Sam Metivier
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Will Travis play WR, CB, or both?

Ever since Travis Hunter was selected second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars on draft night, fans have been wondering how his new NFL team plans to utilize him. The two-way superstar shined at Colorado, acting as the Buffs’ best wide receiver and cornerback, tallying 1,979 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in his two years in Boulder, along with seven interceptions and a forced fumble for good measure.

When Hunter declared for the draft in December, questions have remained about how his unique talent will translate to the pro game. Can Hunter play both wide receiver and corner at the highest level? Will his new team view him more as a cornerback or a receiver, or even let him play both cornerback and receiver altogether?

Jags general manager James Gladstone wasted no time answering those questions, making it loud and clear in their post-draft press conference. You don’t send a boatload of picks to the Browns for the No. 2 overall pick unless you’re ready to let Travis Hunter be Travis Hunter, which means letting him loose on both sides of the ball.

From the moment Jacksonville made the pick, it was obvious what the plan was. Gladstone opened the team’s introductory press conference by giving a great speech about how Travis Hunter is going to change the game of football.

“Travis Hunter embodies belief,” Gladstone said in his presser. “He’s a rare person, he’s a rare player, but he’s also a reminder that the boundaries of the game of football were meant to be challenged. The decision to select [Hunter] was actually a statement; a statement of how we plan to move and who we are. And we want [Hunter] to be nothing more than him, because when he is, he elevates the space around him. From the football field, to the city, to the game of football itself, Travis Hunter is who we’ve been hunting up.”

This quote from Jaguars GM James Gladstone about Travis Hunter is pretty awesome pic.NOPE/mzUyPRmQRv

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 29, 2025​

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Following Gladstone’s words, new Jags head coach Liam Coen took the podium to clafify a bit more information about how Hunter will be utilized on the field, at least during his rookie season.

“We have a plan right now of him playing primarily on offense, with him learning the defensive system and practicing on the defensive side of the ball, as well throughout this offseason program,” said Coen.

Coen’s words indicate that offense will be the starting point for Hunter this season, but defense isn’t off the table, which shouldn’t be a shock. The former Buff has proven time and time again that he can dominate either way, but with the way the modern NFL works, there’s much more money to be made playing receiver.

According to Reception Perception, Travis finished in the 92nd percentile in success rate vs. man coverage, along with 97th vs. zone and 97th vs. press. Hunter has put up the tape and numbers to back up this reputation as an elite pass catcher. That kind of production speaks for itself, especially for someone who played both ways full-time at the Power 4 level.

Travis Hunter is not a normal player, and the Jaguars seem ready to treat him like the rare weapon he is.

by Jacob.Thompson
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Tad Boyle is hot on the recruiting trail.

The Colorado Buffaloes officially signed two transfers this week, Barrington Hargress from UC Riverside and Jon Mani from Denver.

Hargress is the big one. Tad Boyle was looking for a lead guard last summer, couldn’t find one, and then this past season wishing he had. (Julian Hammond did a great job, but he’s more of a pure point guard than a pure scorer.) Hargress should be that guy.

In two seasons with the Highlanders, Hargress demonstrated his ability to create shots for himself and others, averaging more than 20 points and 4 assists. The 6’0, 195-lbs. guard isn’t big, but he’s explosive, strong and knows how to get to his spots. Sometimes he veers too far into hero ball, but hopefully he’ll trust his CU teammates a bit more.


While Hargress was a home run transfer, Jon Mani is an infield single. A three-star out of Beverly Hills, California, Mani was DU’s highest ever recruit, but the freshman struggled badly in what was a lost season for the Pios. His play time was sporadic, his production almost non-existent, and DU coach Jeff Wulbrun was fired midseason.

Tad Boyle sees potential in Mani, highlighting his ability to pass, dribble and shoot, a versatile skill set for a 6’6 guard. Mani will compete for a rotation spot, but is more likely to redshirt as strength coach Steve Englehart could add a few pounds to his wiry frame.

The Buffs will be a young team, as those transfers arrive to Boulder alongside five high schools recruits headlined by Josiah Sanders and Jalin Holland. They join returning star Bangot Dak, promising freshmen Sebastian Rancik and Felix Kossaras, and lone senior Elijah Malone.

Colorado has one more scholarship and will look for an instant contributor, likely on the wing.

by Sam Metivier
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