CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have created something we rarely see in the NFL: a legitimate four-way quarterback competition with no clear frontrunner. With Deshaun Watson sidelined by injury, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders will all compete for what’s typically the most clearly defined position on the team.

What makes this situation particularly intriguing is that any outcome seems possible. As Dan Labbe put it on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast: “I just think every single thing is on the table. I’d be a little surprised if Dillon Gabriel won the job, like, right away. But any of those other three guys, if someone said to me, hey, make the case for this guy, I can make a pretty convincing case for any of them. And that includes Shedeur.”

This unprecedented quarterback battle creates fascinating roster implications. NFL teams typically keep two or three quarterbacks, but almost never four. Someone will inevitably be the odd man out — but who?

The money and draft capital invested in each quarterback only complicates the equation. The Browns signed Flacco to a $4 million contract, traded a fifth-round pick for Pickett, spent a third-round pick on Gabriel and moved up in the fifth round for Sanders. None of these investments guarantee a roster spot, but they do make potential cuts or trades more consequential.

Ashley Bastock offered her analysis of who might have the early advantage: “I mean, if I had to pick in terms of who do I think is most likely to be the starter? Like, I feel as though I should give the edge to Kenny Pickett-slash-Joe Flacco. Like, one of them, just because I can’t see them after all this, just going out there week one and starting a rookie in any capacity.”

Yet there’s historical precedent for the Browns making surprising quarterback decisions. As Mary Kay Cabot pointed out, “At the cut down date last year they were willing to trade Jameis Winston even though they paid him $4 million for the one year contract. They were willing to trade him when they felt that Dorian Thompson-Robinson won the backup job or at least tied for the backup job.”

This raises the possibility that even a veteran like Flacco could be traded if one of the younger quarterbacks impresses during camp and preseason. Cabot speculated: “I just have to wonder if they aren’t going to be willing to do the same thing with Joe Flacco this year… I think that they will keep Joe around until someone is willing to give them a draft pick for him. That’s what I would certainly do. Quarterbacks sometimes are currency.”

The situation is further complicated by the fact that we’ve never seen Kevin Stefanski manage a true quarterback competition as Browns head coach. How will he divide reps? Will one player quickly emerge as the leader, or will this battle extend deep into the preseason?

What makes this quarterback room especially volatile is that each player brings distinctly different qualities to the table. Flacco offers championship experience and recent success with the Browns. Pickett provides youth combined with NFL starting experience. Gabriel brings exceptional college production with questions about his physical limitations. Sanders offers tantalizing potential with fundamental passing skills despite his draft slide.

As Browns fans anxiously watch this competition unfold, Cabot promises one thing: “This competition is going to bring out some fireworks in these guys.”

To get the full breakdown of this unprecedented quarterback battle and hear insider predictions about who might emerge victorious, listen to the complete Orange and Brown Talk podcast episode where the hosts dig deeper into the Browns’ fascinating quarterback situation.

Here’s the podcast for this week: