Browns urged to trade star QB to begin solving quarterback competition

The Cleveland Browns might have to force their own hand.

The longer they proceed with four quarterbacks on the roster, the tougher it'll be to figure out the QB competition.

Right now, they've got veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett along with rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, not to mention the injured Deshaun Watson.

Bleacher Report's Matt Holder thinks a trade needs to be in the cards. He wants them to deal Flacco.

"While Flacco could be the starting quarterback in Cleveland this year, let's be honest, the Browns are going to have a tough time being a playoff contender this season," Holder writes. "So, allowing Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders to see if they can be the franchise's future behind center is a better long-term plan than trotting out a 40-year-old who is on a one-year deal. Meanwhile, trading Flacco would yield some draft capital from a team that could use a veteran backup."

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He's definitely right that playing Flacco only has so much virtue if the Browns aren't actually good.

In this scenario, Pickett could start Week 1 but eventually cede playing time to the rookies.

Flacco is a good presence, but if he keeps the younger guys off the field, that's probably not that useful for Cleveland in the long-term view.

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