TheCleveland Browns did not expectShedeur Sanders to become the center of another offseason debate. However, as training camp approaches, the conversation has shifted from whether he can win the starting job to whether the Browns should trade him altogether.
That is what makes the entire discussion feel backward. NFL teams spend years searching for talented quarterbacks on cheap rookie deals. The Browns finally have one, and some still want the franchise to keep betting on the most expensive contract in team history.
Why Trading Shedeur Sanders Would Be A Mistake For Cleveland
Shedeur Sanders at the Browns OTA camp in Berea on May 20, 2026. © Lisa Scalfaro / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Trade speculation gained traction after local reports suggested the Browns could gauge Sanders’ market value if he does not win the starting job. Team insiders have since pushed back on the idea, calling it illogical given the Browns current QBs landscape.
I’ve always found the “trade Shedeur Sanders” talk ironic
Because everyone acknowledges the kind of talent the #Browns have on a rookie contract
But yet people want to see Deshaun Watson start pic.twitter.com/Cz297Y1M99
— Mac🦬 (@tha_buffalo) June 22, 2026
The timing of the rumors is especially curious as Sanders appears to be gaining momentum. During an appearance on June 22, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reported that Sanders has narrowed the gap on Watson following offseason workouts and minicamp. Fowler added that Sanders made a stronger impression on the coaching staff than expected.
“Deshaun Watson went into the spring as the clear favorite, and then Shedeur Sanders has bridged the gap at least somewhat.”
“He was decisive. I was told he’s got a presence about him that the coaching staff noticed that they might have underestimated a little bit.” (ViaBR)
Those evaluations matter because Sanders is not just a developmental project anymore, but is forcing a legitimate QB competition heading into training camp.
Meanwhile, Watson remains a major question mark. The former Pro Bowler has appeared in only 19 games since arriving in Cleveland in 2022. Injuries and inconsistent performances have prevented him from living up to his fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract.
The Browns have also repeatedly restructured Watson’s deal, pushing cap charges into future seasons through void years.
That makes Sanders even more valuable. He is currently in the second year of his rookie deal. He offers affordable depth for the Browns at the most critical position in football. But even more than that, he represents a safety net for a quarterback who has been injury-prone.
Should the Browns one day decide to whittle down their roster of quarterbacks, Dillon Gabriel would be the logical choice to trade.
It is a strange twist of fate that the Browns already have the kind of quarterback many teams take years to acquire. Trading Sanders before knowing what he can become would only compound an already costly mistake.