Joe Flacco doesn't quite remember the last time he was in a true quarterback competition.
It could date back as far as his high school days, working to earn the starting job at Audubon High School in New Jersey. But now, as Flacco took the field during organized team activities (OTAs) alongside Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the Browns quarterback competition is officially underway.
Yet, Flacco and Pickett both are not focused on the outcome of the quarterback competition. Pickett said he is approaching every competition the same as he has in previous years and is working to the improve daily with the new system and new teammates.
"I'm just taking a day at a time and working really hard," Pickett said. "I just want to be as prepared as I can be when the opportunity comes. And every chance I get out here to put on good tape and play well, and we'll see where the chips fall."
The Browns are in Phase Three of the offseason program, which ends with mandatory minicamp from June 10-12. When they take their reps on the field during individual, 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 drills, they both are focused on playing football and improving every day in the Browns' offensive system.
"I'm just kind of going out there and doing what I do and everything else is kind of out of my control," Flacco said. "It's fun to get back out there and actually play a little football again. It's funny. It's like every time I go out here in the offseason, I've done it a million times, but it's like there's a little piece of you is like, all right, let's see if I still know how to read it and let it go and do all those things. So, it's good to get back out there and start doing it again."
Check out photos of Browns players working during OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Safety Donovan McMillon (31) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (37) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests and Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests and Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Cornerback LaMareon James (27) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Cornerback Dom Jones (37) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
A ball bag during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Wide receiver Cade McDonald (31) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Fullback Troy Hairston (36) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Wide receiver Ja'seem Reed (83) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs (97) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Assistant of Performance Nutrition Grace Kennedy during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
A helmet during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
The offense during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Julian Pearl (60) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (71) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jason Ivey (72) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (71) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (71) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
The facility during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests and Cornerback Tony Brown II (11) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests and Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests and Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (1) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests and Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) and Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81), Stay in the Game! guests and Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (71) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (90) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Defensive tackle Ralph Holley (63) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) and Stay in the Game! guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Cornerback LaMareon James (27) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Stay in the Game! guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) and Cornerback Dom Jones (37) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Safety Damontae Kazee (23) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (11) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2025.
One of the biggest questions for the Browns this offseason is who the starting quarterback in Week 1 of the regular season will be. They first acquired Pickett in a trade with the Eagles and then signed Flacco during the latter portion of free agency. Then, in the 2025 NFL Draft, they selected Gabriel in the third round and Sanders in the fifth round.
"I think there's no shying away, that there's something that gets ignited in you a little bit," Flacco said. "Like there's a reason I still want to play this game, but at the end of the day, I really don't focus on those things. I focus on coming out here, doing my work, having a lot of fun. And all those other things fall into place."
Head coach Kevin Stefanski has reiterated they will use OTAs, minicamp and training camp as evaluation periods for their quarterback room. Whether through live or mental reps, the coaching staff will evaluate their quarterbacks on different factors like decision making, technique and accuracy on each play.
To facilitate that evaluation, they are working to get as many reps as possible for all four quarterbacks – including splitting up into groups on two fields to run two sets of drills simultaneously to give all four quarterbacks reps. It also helps maximize their time out on the practice field.
The order in which quarterbacks are taking reps at this stage is also not a factor. Stefanski said they are mixing up reps each day to give them as much exposure to different concepts, and the order can vary by walkthrough or drill.
Get an inside look at the Cleveland Browns' offseason training as players gear up and go through drills during Wednesday's OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (1) during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (11) and Safety Grant Delpit (9) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The cornerbacks during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Cornerback Chigozie Anusiem (35) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The defensive line during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (37) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (1) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (88) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Yard line markers during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jason Ivey (72) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Director of Equipment Operations Kory Gillissie during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
A helmet during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Long snapper Rex Sunahara (50) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Wide receiver DeAndre Carter (2) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (1) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
The Cleveland Browns hosted community guests for Keepers Day during the second day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) and community guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) and community guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) and community guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Community guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21), Cornerback Tony Brown II (11), Linebacker Winston Reid (59) and community guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) and community guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) and community guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Community guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) and community guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
Community guests during the first day of OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2025.
When the Browns ran the two sets of drills on the second day of OTAs, Flacco and Pickett were paired together, while Gabriel and Sanders were on the second field. Other drills all four quarterbacks rotated through with groups to take reps.
"They're doing a great job of getting everyone reps to see and get experience with the offense and get a feel for everybody," Pickett said. "Reps are just so key for the quarterback position with continuity of players. So, you always want to get as many as you can get. And if you're not, instilling some mental reps and going in and watching tape and seeing every play just to stay as ahead as you can be."
Whether it's just Flacco and Pickett alternating reps in a portion of practice, or all four are taking reps in a drill, they are developing chemistry and open dialogue as a quarterback room. Pickett said he's talked with Flacco in between reps or in the film room about what they each saw on a play. Gabriel and Sanders have also asked questions to both veterans as they learn the nuances of the NFL and the Browns.
"We spend a lot of time together, all the quarterbacks do," Flacco said. "I think that's the nature of the beast. When you're in this business and you're in a room together a lot, you better find ways to get along and find common ground with people. And that's what we're doing in there. We're having a blast and having a lot of fun, talking football and then just laughing at things that come up on a daily basis."
