Shedeur Sanders
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Carson Schwesinger believes Shedeur Sanders has what it takes to be the Browns' quarterback of the future
The Cleveland Browns have some big questions to answer this offseason. The biggest of the bunch revolves around the quarterback position, where the Browns currently feature a pair of rookies, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. After Gabriel got the first crack at being the team’s starter last season, Sanders eventually stole the job from him midway through the year.
The problem, of course, is that neither guy looked particularly great when they were under center. However, it appears Sanders will receive another shot at earning the starting job in 2026, and one of his fellow rookies, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, believes he has what it takes to be the team’s quarterback of the future.
Carson Schwesinger Dishes on Shedeur Sanders
While the Browns have some serious questions to ask regarding their rookie quarterbacks, one guy from their 2025 draft class that they don’t have to worry about is Schwesinger. The second-round pick out of UCLA immediately earned a starting job as Cleveland’s defensive playcaller, and he put up some big numbers (156 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, three pass deflections) on his way to earning the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Sanders didn’t enjoy as much success during his initial stint in the NFL, as he threw for just 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns during his eight games of action. Of course, it is worth noting that the Browns’ offense was in much worse shape than their defense, so Schwesinger had a lot more to work with than Sanders did.
Still, the best quarterbacks are able to make plays, even when things aren’t going their way. Sanders showed more of an ability to do that than Gabriel, but that isn’t saying much. Schwesinger was quick to note how much Sanders grew throughout the course of the season, though, and with a full offseason of preparation, he believes he’ll be ready to go by the time the 2026 campaign rolls around.
“Being able to go in there and run the offense as a rookie, it’s a hard thing to do,” Schwesinger said of Sanders on “The Insiders.” “As somebody who’s calling the defense, I think doing that on offense is a lot bigger of a job, but (I have) a little bit of understanding there in what it takes. Being able to do that and have the poise, and then you see growth every week, I think that’s really what you can ask for.”
Should Shedeur Sanders Be the Browns Starting Quarterback in 2026?
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
New Browns’ head coach Todd Monken appears to be a fan of Sanders’, but that doesn’t guarantee anything when it comes to the quarterback position moving forward. Cleveland will almost certainly add at least one new face to this room over the next few months, in an effort to provide Sanders and Gabriel with some real competition when it comes to the starting job.
When it comes down to Sanders and Gabriel, though, the former showed more potential during his time on the field, which is why he is rightly viewed as the top option for the team at this spot currently. Things can change in an instant, though, and how the Browns address their quarterback position in free agency and the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft will ultimately tell us how they feel about Sanders moving forward.