Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns
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Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have said frequently–whether it’s GM Andrew Berry, head coach Todd Monken, offensive coordinator Travis Switzer or, heck, even new offensive tackle Tytus Howard–that the approach to the starting quarterback’s job in 2026 would come down to an open competition.
As that phrase has been tossed around in recent weeks, there was a consensus that the Browns would likely add another name to the roster as part of that competition. The team has three guys on hand with whom fans are plenty familiar–Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson. There was expected to be some effort toward expanding that group, but ultimately, the Browns have stayed on the sidelines during the NFL’s quarterback shuffle.
They were not involved with Malik Willis’ free agency as he signed on with the Dolphins. Nor did they much get involved with players like Kyler Murray (Vikings), Tua Tagovailoa (Falcons) or Justin Fields (traded to Chiefs). Reports now suggest that a pursuit of an Anthony Richardson trade from the Colts is off the table, too.
Shedeur Sanders Threw 10 INTs, 7 TDs
For the Browns, that means the quarterback competition is increasingly looking like a one-man race, with Sanders leading the way, Watson with an outside chance and Gabriel just happy to be on the roster still.
Sanders had his struggles last year as a passer and a quarterback–the threw seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions–but he did bring a certain mojo to the job, and wound up winning three games. The offensive roster was terrible, and he ranked No. 38 out of 38 NFL quarterbacks in the Pro Football Focus grading system, but a 3-4 record for a team that finished 5-12 is notable.
Browns Giving Shedeur Sanders ‘Runway’ Toward QB1 Job
Zac Jackson, the Browns beat writer for The Athletic, notes that the lack of activity from the team is a pretty compelling indication that there’s a growing comfort level with letting Sanders have another go at being the starter, and seeing how he does with a better supporting cast.
Jackson writes, “The first week of NFL free agency was a good one for Shedeur Sanders’ chances of claiming the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback job this summer. … At this still-early point, it seems safe to say that Sanders has at least some runway toward being the starter.
“Let’s save the wild takes and proclamations for what’s likely going to be an annual reboot of an open quarterback competition. But let’s also pencil Sanders in as the most likely of the current group to take the race wire-to-wire.”
Browns Could Look to Draft for Another QB Option
Jackson goes on to explain that it appears the Browns’ next step will be to add a quarterback to the group, and while Ty Simpson from Alabama is considered the second-best option in this draft class, it is unlikely the Browns would use the necessary draft capital–they have No. 6 and No. 24 in the first round–to add him.
The Browns could use No. 39 on Simpson if he lasts into the second round, but that’s a stretch. The Browns have holes to fill in the draft–left tackle, wide receiver, depth on the line and at tight end–so those will take priority.
It is worth noting, too, when considering where Sanders ranks among the current crop of Browns quarterback possibilities, that both Monken and Switzer have talked about the need for a quarterback to have that vague “it” factor. And whatever could be said about Sanders’ shortcomings last year, he did do the best job of rallying his team to play better than the sum of its parts.
As Switzer put it: “He’s got to be an elite leader and decision maker. I mean, that’s where it starts. Somebody said this, I remember hearing it years ago. It might have been (Dan) Marino or somebody – as a quarterback, you got to go throw four picks in the first quarter and step into the huddle in the second half, look your guys in the eye and they still believe in going. So that’s one of those things. I don’t know if you can coach that, I don’t know. I think it certainly helps”