The Cleveland Browns are handing the reins over to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in Week 5. He's set to replace veteran Joe Flacco and make his first NFL start when the group travels across the pond to face the Minnesota Vikings.
Per an official team announcement, the Browns will roll with Gabriel over Flacco against the Vikings. Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski has resisted the idea of making a change under center amid the club's offensive shortcomings. Nevertheless, recent news tells us a breaking point has been reached.
It's quite literally hard to get much worse than Flacco has been in his age-40 campaign. The numbers suggest that anyone should be considered an upgrade from the one-time Super Bowl champion. This sets an incredibly low bar for Gabriel to clear, which Minnesota presumably wishes Cleveland had waited a little longer to let him try hurdling.
Minnesota Vikings feeling sneaky ripple effect of Cleveland Browns changing QBs before Week 5
Here's how Flacco ranks in the following metrics out of 39 quarterbacks with at least 10 dropbacks through the first four weeks of the 2025 season:
- 39th in passer rating (60.3)
- 38th in completion percentage (58.1)
- 37th in yards per pass attempt (5.09)
- 37th in completion percentage over expectation (-3.0)
- 2nd in interceptions (six)
Make no mistake, Gabriel could easily fold under the pressure of his first real taste of pro action. An international clash versus a stout Brian Flores-schemed defense with an underwhelming skill position corps and PFF's 30th-ranked pass-blocking unit doesn't help matters.
The Browns are throwing the 2025 No. 94 overall pick to the wolves; it'd hardly be shocking if he sank before swimming.
Be that as it may, Gabriel's upside compared to Flacco's nonexistent ceiling makes the Browns much more of a threat. The latter's point guard-style approach as a distributor and mobility adds elements of efficiency and dynamism that Cleveland has sorely lacked this season.
Meanwhile, the former's statuesque pocket presence and inaccuracy are a poor combo that opponents have exploited.
Flores and Minnesota's fierce front seven were ready to tee off on a washed-up, turnover-prone Flacco. Suddenly, they're challenged with the unknown potential of Gabriel's dual-threat skill set.
The best squads can adapt to and overcome obstacles, so this will serve as a litmus test of sorts for the Vikes.