Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders not only faced the pressure of being the son of a Hall of Famer, but he also faced the pressure of starting at quarterback as a rookie this year. While his fans were impressed by his play, many people still believe the Browns should move in a different direction at the quarterback position.
What did analyst Ken Carman have to say?
Browns Analyst Ken Carman Isn’t Convinced of Shedeur Sanders’s Future in Cleveland
Carman and Anthony Lima discussed Sanders on “92.3 The Fan” as they dissected the Browns’ situation at quarterback heading into the offseason, particularly regarding the rookie quarterback.
🚨”He’s proven he’s come a long way he’s also proven he has a long way to go. There’s no way I’ll say it’s his team and that’s it for 2026… If it’s between him and Deshaun, I’d start Shedeur.”@KenCarman & @SportsBoyTony on committing to Shedeur Sanders as QB1 in 2026👀 pic.twitter.com/xyQXZahUE8
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) January 5, 2026
“I think there is some good play that you can build off of,” Carman said. “[But] I’m not convinced. I’m not convinced at all. I’m just trying to be as open-minded as I can… When it comes to Shedeur, this was not a good football game for him. But I do think it can be a little bit better going into next year.”
He continued by analyzing Cleveland’s situation on offense, noting the promising pieces. “You do have some more offensive linemen, [you] do have some better weapons to throw to, you have another year with Harold Fannin — I think it can be better,” he said.
However, Carman cautioned the team’s brass against leaning heavily on Sanders for the future. “I’m not throwing all my eggs into that basket,” he added. “I understand that is other options available. You still have Deshaun Watson there that you’re paying $46 million, so that saga isn’t going to end anytime soon.”
The analyst also dived into his outlook for the offseason and beyond, claiming that another draft trade wouldn’t be bad. “I wouldn’t mind running it back with another trade this coming draft and getting another pick for the next year,” he continued.
Carman broke down Sanders, saying he’s better than a 5th-round pick, but he’s still not a 1st-round pick.
However, the Browns‘ quarterback situation has deteriorated to the point where the analyst still believes that Sanders is the best option that the team currently has.
The rest of the quarterback room includes rookie Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson, with Bailey Zappe on the practice squad.
There’s a strong chance that Cleveland will go for a shot-caller in the 2026 NFL Draft, given their lack of quality at the position. Several college superstars like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore should be up for grabs on draft day, so it’ll be interesting to see what route the team takes.
