The Cleveland Browns have been under a huge spotlight since last season. After a dramatic draft day slide, they chose Shedeur Sanders with the 144th overall pick. But with multiple other quarterbacks on the roster, it took a while for him to get playing time.
But a rabid fan base for the young quarterback kept putting pressure on the organization. Before the 2026 NFL season has even gotten underway, it looks like a similar situation is unfolding, leaving rival executives aghast.
Shedeur Sanders Hype Refuses to Die
In a thorough breakdown of the AFC rankings, a bunch of executives came together to offer their opinions to The Athletic. One anonymous executive from the group alluded to the situation surrounding Sanders as reminiscent of a different AFC quarterback more than a decade ago.
“You didn’t think the situation could get worse than Deshaun,” one executive said. “It got worse. Sanders is not good, and the circus he brings is almost Tim Tebow-ish in a different fashion.”
Tebow came to the league as a first-round pick for the Denver Broncos. Becoming a starter in his second year, he turned his team’s season around, leading them to the playoffs. At the same time, his clutch performances and outspoken Christian faith made him a cultural icon.
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But with doubts about his viability as an NFL-caliber quarterback, he was traded to the New York Jets, where his career effectively ended after just one year. Throughout his time in the league, though, his fandom refused to give an inch.
A similar situation might now be unfolding with Sanders. Last season, he got a crack at playing time after both Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel had spent time as the starter. In Week 11, after the former had been traded and the latter was injured during the game, he subbed in for one half.
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From that point forward, he kept the QB1 role till the end of the season. But with just 1,400 passing yards and seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions, he was far from a franchise-altering presence for the Browns.
As a result, he ranked second-to-last on PFN’s Quarterback Impact Metric, and he didn’t get to keep the starting role with new head coach Todd Monken.
Instead, Watson won the job after a lengthy battle, but some sections of the fan base remain unmoved.
Despite evidence of his failings in the NFL, fans remain convinced that Sanders can be the star many believed he could be coming out of Colorado. And until the Browns find a true franchise cornerstone, potentially in the 2027 draft, it is a cloud that will continue to hang over their head.
