Shedeur Sanders has been up and down in his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns. After starting the 2025 NFL season on the bench, Sanders rose to the top of the depth chart after Joe Flacco‘s benching and Dillon Gabriel’s injury. In fact, an NFL rumor suggests that Cleveland could move into 2026 with Sanders as the starting quarterback.
The vibe around Cleveland suggests that Sanders will be the starting quarterback in 2026, as reported by Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot on 92.3 The Fan. The NFL insider says it’s “almost kind of trending in that direction” for Sanders, as Cleveland looks for its long-term future at quarterback.
The 23-year-old quarterback has elevated the Browns’ offense over the last month, as the team has been able to move the ball more than previously. Sanders has flashed the good and bad of his game, and Cleveland might be willing to give him even more time.
Shedeur Sanders’ outlook with the Cleveland Browns
Sanders was selected by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after being labeled a potential first-round pick. It was uncertain if the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback would even make the Cleveland roster, but he has been pretty solid as he continues his development.
In five games, Sanders has thrown for 946 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions. However, the Cleveland quarterback’s best game came against the Tennessee Titans with 364 passing yards, 29 rushing yards, and four total touchdowns.
The current group of quarterback prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft isn’t very strong. Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza figures to be a strong favorite for the first pick, but there isn’t much top-end depth behind him. Therefore, it might not be worth adding a quarterback early in the NFL Draft.
The Browns hope to figure out the offense to close out the 2025 NFL season, while the defense has begun to slip a little bit. Sanders has helped stabilize the Cleveland offense when he is playing at his best, and the organization hopes that development can continue into the 2026 season.
