Shedeur Sanders’ first NFL season has been a roller coaster filled with drama after the Cleveland Browns drafted him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Now named the starting quarterback for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, Sanders’ performance has sparked debate about the future of the position in Cleveland.
Has the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders shown enough to be considered the quarterback of the future for a franchise that desperately needs one?
Fans in Cleveland Weigh Shedeur Sanders Against Drafting a New QB
As with most rookie signal-callers, Sanders has endured his fair share of struggles in his first five NFL games (four starts). However, he has also made some big-time plays, flashing the talent that made him the No. 2 quarterback prospect on PFSN’s 2025 NFL Draft Big Board.
The Browns have a 1-3 record in Sanders’ first four starts. Through five games, the Colorado product has thrown for 946 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions, with a 52.2% completion rate and a 68.1 passer rating, per Pro Football Reference.
Those are subpar numbers, and on the surface, they do very little to inspire confidence. However, context is important, and Sanders’ path to this moment has been far from typical. Kevin Stefanski and the Browns have handled Sanders’ development in a questionable manner, dating back to training camp, where he received minimal reps with the first-team offense.
Even with the lackluster on-field production, Sanders has turned heads around the NFL and within the Browns’ fan base. ESPN Cleveland recently posted a poll on X asking fans what the Browns’ front office should do if they land a top-two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. As it stands, more than 60% of respondents believe Cleveland does not need to draft a quarterback in that spot.
ESPN Cleveland Primetime wants to know:
If the Browns have a top 2 pick they have to draft a QB…
Watch Now: https://t.co/8LCB6DTUpM
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) December 21, 2025
Sanders began the season as the Browns’ third-string quarterback, sitting behind veteran Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel on the depth chart. Cleveland shipped Flacco to Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Sanders took over for an injured Gabriel, and he never relinquished the job despite Gabriel’s full recovery.
Top QB Prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft Class
Here are the highest-rated quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class, according to PFSN’s NFL Mock Draft Simulator:
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (2nd overall)
2. Dante Moore, Oregon (3rd overall)
3. Ty Simpson, Alabama (9th overall)
4. Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati (77th overall)
5. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU (123rd overall)
6. Taylen Green, Arkansas (152nd overall)
7. Carson Beck, Miami FL (164th overall)
8. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor (177th overall)
9. John Mateer, Oklahoma (190th overall)
10. Cade Klubnik, Clemson (205th overall)
The 2026 class features several top-tier quarterback talents, with Mendoza, Moore, and Simpson each ranking in the top 10 on the overall big board. It is hard to argue against a case for any of those players. However, it would be an indictment of general manager Andrew Berry and the front office if Cleveland drafted another quarterback after taking two in 2025.
Sanders has shown flashes and appears to have earned the respect of his teammates. The Browns have a long history of mediocrity. While Sanders has areas of his game that need improvement, it is difficult to place all of the team’s struggles on him. All eyes will be on how Cleveland handles the quarterback position throughout the offseason.
