CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns quarterback carousel continues to spin, and this Sunday, rookie Shedeur Sanders will likely get his first NFL start against the Raiders. But as the Orange and Brown Talk podcast reveals, the organization faces a compelling dilemma: Should they embrace Sanders’ elite accuracy despite his concerning flaws, or protect him from himself?
Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot acknowledges Sanders’ natural gifts but doesn’t mince words about his long-term prospects: “He’s got really nice elite arm talent. And so I think there is some potential there and I believe that there’s something worth developing and working with. But I still think, I really believe in my heart of hearts, that the Browns will draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 draft with one or both of those draft picks.”
That assessment frames the central question for the Browns over the final seven games — is Sanders merely an intriguing prospect with a high ceiling, or could he potentially be the franchise’s future?
Sanders’ NFL debut against the Ravens showed both sides of this equation. His beautiful deep throw to Harold Fannin Jr. and tight-window near-touchdown to Gage Larvardain demonstrated arm talent that’s been missing since Joe Flacco’s departure. Yet those flashes came alongside alarming tendencies to retreat from clean pockets, hold the ball too long and create turnover opportunities for the defense.
“He only turned it over once, but he could have turned it over on 50% of his possessions,” Cabot noted. “And that is not going to fly with Kevin Stefanski. It just isn’t going to.”
Orange and Brown Talk host Dan Labbe drew a telling comparison: “It’s kind of the Jameis Winston problem, right? It’s kind of the Jameis, makes great throws, the guy’s going to make some throws that wow you but then he’s also going to turn the ball over a bunch. You just know what you’re getting with Jameis Winston, and you can only sustain that stuff for so long.”
This creates the framework for evaluating Sanders going forward. Every spectacular throw will be weighed against the moments when he creates unnecessary pressure or risks turnovers. For every deep completion that makes fans dream about his potential, there will likely be a maddening decision that reminds everyone of his inexperience.
The coaching staff now faces the challenge of designing a game plan that maximizes Sanders’ strengths while protecting him from his natural instincts to try too much.
“I do think that if they have an opportunity to find some outlet passes for him and some ways that he can get rid of the ball really quickly, I think that’s going to be important,” Cabot said. “He’s going to have to play under control. He has to play under control.”
For the Browns organization, the next seven games represent a fascinating evaluation period. Even with the likelihood of drafting a quarterback in 2026, Sanders’ performance could dramatically alter how they approach that decision. If he can harness his elite arm talent while minimizing the mistakes, he could force the front office to reconsider their plans.
Will Sanders follow the Jameis Winston career path — a quarterback whose spectacular plays never quite outweighed his mistakes? Or can proper coaching and development help him find the consistency needed to maximize his obvious physical gifts?
This Sunday’s game against the Raiders represents the first real opportunity to answer these questions. With a full week of first-team reps and a game plan tailored to his abilities, Browns fans will get a clearer picture of what Shedeur Sanders might become.
Don’t miss this week’s episode of Orange and Brown Talk for the full breakdown of Sanders’ debut and what to expect in his first NFL start — it’s essential listening for any Browns fan trying to make sense of this quarterback situation.
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