Shedeur Sanders will enter his second season with the Cleveland Browns with a new head coach. The franchise fired Kevin Stefanski this year and replaced him with former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
While this could help to develop their young quarterback, an NFL insider speculated that his role as their starter could be in jeopardy amid the major changes.
Shedeur Sanders’ Grip on Browns QB Job Looks Shaky After Insider Take
Sanders ended the 2025 NFL season as the Browns’ starting quarterback, and while he surely flashed his upside, his struggles were also obvious. With the Browns hiring Monken to replace Stefanski as their new head coach, it will be interesting to see how they approach the position.
NFL insider Jeremy Fowler recently discussed the situation and the possibility of a change at quarterback. He also offered his own prediction for who will be the starter when the 2026 season arrives.
“I’m going to say it’s somebody different in there. Whether it’s a Malik Willis in free agency, or maybe they take a swing on a Ty Simpson from Alabama in the draft … The Browns are in a position to take that king of swing,” speculated Fowler.
“I’m gonna say it’s somebody different in there, whether it’s a Malik Willis in free agency or take a swing on a Ty Simpson in the draft… The Browns are in a position to take that king of swing.”
đź“ž@JFowlerESPN on Browns QB plans in 2026 pic.twitter.com/n76S53mml4
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) January 30, 2026
Fowler apparently doesn’t believe Sanders will be the solution to the Browns’ quarterback situation. He stated that they may look to a free agent like Malik Willis or another player in the NFL Draft like Ty Simpson, despite drafting two quarterbacks last year.
Dillon Gabriel was drafted before Sanders, but the Browns made a change amid his disappointing performances. Neither rookie was all that impressive with their opportunities, with Sanders finishing 46th and Gabriel finishing 47th among 48 qualified quarterbacks in PFSN’s Impact Rankings for last season.
Further complicating the situation is the potential return of Deshaun Watson, who spent last year recovering from an Achilles injury and is still under contract. The Browns aren’t short of options on their roster, but according to Fowler, their solution at quarterback may have to come from the outside.
This major decision will be one of the biggest of Monken’s first year as their head coach. It will be interesting to see if he prefers to stick with Sanders or replace him with an alternative. His previous job as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator included Lamar Jackson winning the MVP award, so he has proven success working with quarterbacks.
