Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the frontrunner to start next season.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the frontrunner to start next season.
A recent post by the Cleveland Browns highlighting Shedeur Sanders has turned some heads as the quarterback situation remains unsettled.
Sanders is coming off a roller coaster rookie season. The former Colorado star fell to the fifth round in the draft but was picked by the Browns at No. 144 overall. Sanders faced some early adversity but eventually got the nod as the starter after stepping in for Dillon Gabriel, the Browns’ third-round pick, who suffered a concussion.
Sanders is now in the mix to take over as the full-time starter next season, although the Browns have yet to officially name him QB1.
“Sure, I think it’s an open competition,” Browns new head coach, Todd Monken, said recently. “I mean, I don’t why it wouldn’t be an open competition. I don’t mean that saying it harshly, but I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years one way or the other to say, boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet. Whether internally or externally.”
Browns Post on Shedeur Sanders Sparks Buzz
The Browns posted a video documenting Sanders’ journey to the NFL, his resume and growing up as the son of a Hall of Famer.
“It was a long road to the NFL stage for Shedeur,” the post read.
It drew hundreds of comments and thousands of likes, with many expressing support for Sanders.
“I love how you all are promoting him as a starter, yet the media is still reporting he won’t be. Make it make sense,” one fan said.
“The Browns are answering all your questions, people just don’t like the answer,” another added.
“This was very needed because Cleveland media is the worst media in the world, filled with hate! It’s crazy to watch Cleveland media on a propaganda and lies against this kid!” a thid added. “We all watched this kid go against the number of 1 draft pick with little reps yet they want us to believe this rookie is not good like we didn’t watch the games. All Cleveland media who have been part of this off-season campaign against this kid should be banned from covering the team.”
Shedeur Sanders Set for ‘First Crack’ at Browns Starting Job
The Browns currently have three quarterbacks on the roster in Sanders, Gabriel and Deshaun Watson. While Monken plans to approach the quarterback situation as a clean slate, the common sentiment is that Sanders is the frontrunner.
“Let’s save the wild takes and proclamations for what’s likely going to be an annual reboot of an open quarterback competition,” Zac Jackson of The Athletic said. “But let’s also pencil Sanders in as the most likely of the current group to take the race wire-to-wire.
“Where it all goes remains to be seen. But Sanders should get the first crack at things as Cleveland proceeds through the offseason.”
The Browns passed on adding a veteran quarterback in free agency, leaving the position largely unchanged. While Cleveland owns two first-round picks in April’s draft, using either on a quarterback currently appears unlikely.
It may be Sanders or bust for the Browns in 2026.