Why Joe Flacco is still Browns' starting QB over rookies Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders

From the start of the offseason, the trend line pointed toward 40-year old Joe Flacco being the Cleveland Browns' Week 1 starter at quarterback.

From that point, it became a question of how long Flacco would stick in the QB1 role.

It's Week 3 now, and he's still there to face the Green Bay Packers.

Many fans may be wondering why Flacco is the guy still rather than one of the rookies, Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders.

Frankly, it's not that complicated.

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Why is Joe Flacco still the Browns' starting QB?

The Browns don't have a sure thing behind Flacco. Gabriel was a third-round pick, and Sanders went exactly 50 picks later in the fifth.

So to plug in one of the rookies, Cleveland has to feel confident it can set them up for success.

Right now, the schedule is the biggest reason Flacco is still starting.

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The Packers are a ferocious defense. Then it'll be the potent Lions, the talented Vikings and the tough Steelers.

At this point, it's Oct. 19 against the Miami Dolphins that appears the obvious day to plug in one of the rookies for a first career start.

Until then, it'll probably be Flacco.

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