Shedeur Sanders’ future and position on the Cleveland Browns’ roster have been the talk of the offseason in Cleveland. There were rumors that the Browns were looking to trade the second-year quarterback, that Cleveland had too many signal callers on the roster, and that Sanders was the expendable one.
However, there’s also been talk that he could be in a position to start in Cleveland in 2026. What’s the latest on Sanders’ situation with the Browns?
NFL Insider Reveals Browns Like Sanders’ Development
NFL insider James Palmer reported that the Browns have actually been very impressed with Shedeur Sanders’ development this offseason and the position he’s put himself in for the 2026 season.
“He is improving in terms of his pocket presence, in terms of going through his progressions, all the stuff that you need to play effective NFL quarterback,” Palmer said. “He has worked hard while he’s in the building. He’s been a good teammate. He’s been a guy that is really trying to improve and work hard.”
Where do things stand in the Browns QB battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders? And do the Browns have any interest in possibly trading Sanders? pic.twitter.com/XC3dtXkufY
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) July 9, 2026
Palmer noted there were question marks around Sanders’ game coming out of college, so he was always going to be a developmental prospect.
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He also didn’t operate under center in college, so that is an adjustment for the young quarterback, but he has always been an accurate passer, and Cleveland is seeing improvement in the areas Sanders struggled with when they drafted him.
Palmer added that despite the trade rumors around the Browns’ young quarterback, he does not see that happening.
“My understanding is they don’t have any intention on trading Shedeur Sanders,” Palmer said. “He is a player that they’re seeing improve, that they have under control for the next several years, and don’t have a heavy financial commitment into.
“He has not caused any problems behind the scenes in the building that would force them to part ways with him by any stretch… I think they’ve enjoyed the process.”
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Palmer added he believes both Sanders and Deshaun Watson will be on the roster to start the 2026 season, and both could be on the roster at the end of the season as well.
With the heavy financial commitment the team made to Watson and him finally being healthy, the veteran quarterback led the quarterback competition to begin the offseason, but Palmer said Sanders is closing the gap.
“There’s a lot of people that think they’re going to start the season with Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders because it’s easier to go from Deshaun to Shedeur as opposed to the other way around,” Palmer said. “But Shedeur Sanders has closed the gap.”
While plenty of noise has been made about Sanders’ attitude and whether he would be good for the locker room or not, it seems as though the young quarterback has done nothing but put his head down and work this offseason.
Sanders, who, according to PFN’s QB Impact Metric, ranked as the second-worst quarterback in the league last season, may not start the season, but it certainly sounds like he’ll get another opportunity in 2026 to show whether or not he can be the quarterback of the future in Cleveland.
