#HeyTony: Did the ESPN Cleveland Quarterback Tracker create a false narrative?

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Hey Tony: Did the ESPN Cleveland media make a mistake creating the QB stat chart from OTAs? It has created a false narrative that the national media is now running with.

-- Kyle, Louisville, KY

Hey Kyle: Mistake? We provided the facts of the day. And you’re welcome. Everyone will copy now. Anyone who thinks the throwing statistics of one OTA practice tilts the QB derby one way or another is the one making the mistake. We intend to tabulate the throwing numbers through minicamp and into training camp. We will periodically post the total numbers. The coaches are doing the same thing. The numbers are just one piece of data coaches will use to select a starting quarterback. Also, you have to put the numbers in perspective. Some people thought Shedeur Sanders won the day because he was 7 of 9 with three touchdowns. Well, they were all in a 7-on-7 red zone period. Sanders took very few reps in the 11-on-11 period. In fact, the Browns ran out of defensive linemen when he took his reps and the offense had an 11-on-9 man advantage. But his fans don’t want to hear that. For the record, the interception attributed to Dillon Gabriel has been ruled an incompletion pass after video review. So the narrative that Gabriel had a bad day is false, too.

Hey Tony: Suppose Kenny Pickett has an outstanding season and the Browns want to retain him as starter. Could they offer a 2 or 3 year deal with low salary in 2026, then a guaranteed very high salary for following years, to get past the last year of Watson's contract?

-- Dave, Cedar Park, TX

Hey Dave: What you propose is possible, I guess. But two things: If Pickett has an outstanding season, he will undoubtedly test the free agent market. Also, at this early juncture, the Browns should be expected to draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 draft. Unless something drastic happens, the 2026 QB draft class will be too good to pass up. That was the point of the trade for Jacksonville’s No. 1 pick in 2026, you know.

Hey Tony: If the Browns owned the number one pick thanks to Jacksonville stinking and Arch Manning decided to declare for the draft after a terrific season, would the Browns draft him if one of the rookie QB’s had a handful of games with great quarterback play?

-- Brett, Coshocton, OH

Hey Brett: Without a moment of hesitation, absolutely yes.

Hey Tony: Since Joe Flacco is not the future and they have 3 other QB’s to assess who may be the future by the end of the season, why would you ever start Flacco? Unless the Browns compete for playoffs, we need to assess our assets for the future.

-- Mike, San Antonio, TX

Hey Mike: To quote Herm Edwards, “You play to win the game.” The objective of the 2025 season is not to “assess our assets for the future.” How do you explain that to Joel Bitonio and Myles Garrett and other veterans? The best quarterback should play. Gabriel and Sanders are signed to four-year contracts. That will give the Browns plenty of time to assess them.

Hey Tony: Do you think the Browns will extend David Njoku? 

-- Adam, Valley City, OH

Hey Adam: Yes, of course. He turns 29 in July, and it feels like Njoku still hasn’t played his best football. And GM Andrew Berry loves him.

Hey Tony: Do you see the two RBs drafted in the 2nd round, possibly becoming another Byner & Mack 1,000 yards each?

-- David, Ashtabula, OH

Hey David: For the record, Quinshon Judkins was drafted in the second round and Dylan Sampson in the fourth round. In order to have two backs reach 1,000 yards in the same season, you need a commitment to run, and that would be based on probably a very poor passing game. I don’t think the Browns feel that will be the case in 2025. However, the camaraderie between Byner and Mack, which was similar to that of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, appears to be already forming between Judkins and Sampson. They should be a dynamic duo.

Hey Tony: Do you like the Brook Park dome design? Looks thrown together to me.

-- Brian, Cleveland, OH

Hey Brian: The images I’ve seen are intriguing. I like the design. It will be unique, partly due to the fact the playing field will be 80 feet below ground level because of the location of the project so close to the airport. It will be a world-class facility.

Hey Tony: What record would the Browns need through the first 6 games to motivate the brain trust to not tank the rest of the year?

-- Tony, Tucson AZ

Hey Tony: It’s funny. You’re one of the few who wants the team to win, which means play the veteran quarterback(s). Most want to see Sanders play – no matter what the record. Fans have to understand that 2025 is a transitional year and the 2026 draft has more than one QB who will be considered a franchise savior.

Hey Tony: What does Shedeur Sanders have to do to be named the Browns week 1 starter?

-- Jacob, Kent, OH

Hey Jacob: He has to win the job beyond any shadow of doubt. That means he has to leapfrog Gabriel, Pickett and Flacco with his performance from now through training camp and preseason.

Hey Tony: If the draft happened again, based on how Shedeur Sanders has performed in camp and conducted himself off the field in Cleveland, if the other teams had seen that side of him, do you think he would have been drafted higher than the 5th round? 

-- AJ, Avon, OH

Hey AJ: Please consider that they’re playing touch football with no pass rush right now. It’s OTAs. Sanders’ biggest negative on the field was holding the ball too long and drifting into too many sacks and negative plays. That part of his game won’t be tested until joint practices in August and preseason games.

Hey Tony: Seems like nothing has been done to improve the O line. Great to have new QB and RB options, but without a better line, that could all go for naught.  Are the Browns going to sign anyone or trade for O line help?

-- Ray, Westlake, OH

Hey Ray: You need to subscribe to TheLandOnDemand to catch up on your favorite team. The O-line was improved when the coaching change was made and Mike Bloomgren was hired as O-line coach to re-install the wide zone blocking scheme previously run under Bill Callahan. The team also signed veteran free agents Cornelius Lucas and Teven Jenkins to improve depth. If tackles Dawand Jones and Jack Conklin can stay healthy, the offensive line will be the strongest position group on the team.

Hey Tony: I see Gabriel as a career backup and feel that’s what he was drafted for. With loading up for next year’s QB draft and also having Shadeur, are we really looking at going into next season with a QB room of two second-year guys and a rookie?

-- Brendon, Henrico, VA

Hey Brendon: Why not? If the 2026 QB draft pans out as good as advertised, there is no way the Browns can let it pass them by. Either Gabriel or Sanders should gain enough experience to serve as the main backup. And if not, the Browns can find another bargain-basement veteran to fill that role. Be happy there is a QB plan in place to align with a good QB draft.

Hey Tony: Now that Cousins has asked for a trade any chance the Browns cut Flacco and Pickett and bring in Cousins?

-- Jim, Wooster, OH

Hey Jim: Seriously? Why? The Browns eliminated Cousins as an option when they traded for Pickett.