Who Should I Start? Joe Flacco or C.J. Stroud

Tuesday, August 12, 12:54 AM

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco took all of the first-team reps during the team's 11-on-11 session on Monday, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. After rookie Shedeur Sanders generated plenty of buzz in his solid preseason debut against the Panthers, it was still the veteran signal caller who dominated reps, which limited Sanders and Dillon Gabriel to alternating reps with the second and third teams. It is almost assuredly Flacco's job to lose at this stage in training camp, and that is a positive for Cleveland's pass catchers. There should be plenty of pass volume as the Browns are expected to trail in games a good amount of the time. Flacco doesn't scramble and does well enough in avoiding sacks to support a functional pass-catching group.

Wednesday, July 16, 2:47 PM

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a sophomore slump following his fantastic rookie season in 2023 out of Ohio State. After throwing for more than 4,100 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 games in Year 1, he regressed to just over 3,700 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 picks in Year 2. Entering 2025 in what could set him up for a lucrative contract extension, Stroud has trained hard to improve his physical fitness. "I've been working really hard on getting my body right -- losing body fat, trying to be faster, stronger," Stroud said. "And it went really well. ... [Working] pocket mobility, running out the pocket, throwing the rock. Everything kind of works hand in hand." Last season, Houston's offensive line struggled mightily, and Stroud was sacked 63 times, good for the second-most in the NFL behind only Caleb Williams (68). The offensive line could remain an issue after the team traded away franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil, but sacks are often largely a quarterback stat, too. If Stroud can become more dynamic operating inside and outside of the pocket, it could create more downfield opportunities for pass-catchers Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, and Jayden Higgins, among others.