The Cleveland Browns have concluded another disappointing season, missing the postseason for the second consecutive year and the 21st time in the last 23 years. The Browns have been a disaster over the past two decades for many reasons. But the most glaring issue is the lack of good quarterback play.
The Browns have been at the top of the NFL Draft consistently and have drafted quarterbacks in the first round plenty of times, but have not found the right man for the job. In the past draft, the Browns selected Shedeur Sanders in the 5th round. NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. believes Sanders is the right man to turn the franchise around.
Browns Could Have Their Franchise QB in Place
Kiper Jr. has been one of the biggest Sanders fans ever since the NFL Draft. He had Sanders as his highest-rated quarterback and expected him to be selected in the first round.
He was flabbergasted when Sanders fell to the fifth round, and his recent comments about Sanders’s rookie season should come as no surprise.
Kiper Jr. mentioned that “If Josh Allen has haters in year two and three of his career, there is no way Shedeur can avoid it.”
“I don’t know what else the kid needed to do,” – Mel Kiper Jr says Shedeur Sanders did more than enough to be the Browns QB1 in 2026.
Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/JB3eGIRepX
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) January 7, 2026
According to Browns Nation, Kiper Jr. said, “I don’t know what else the kid needs to do. Everything about Shedeur Sanders screams he’s the quarterback. People are gonna be like, ‘Oh, where’s he ranked?’
Forget that. Look at the interceptions that were off of Jerry Jeudy, off of Judkins’ shoulder, batted balls…If you are gonna sit there and tell me you weren’t impressed with the rookie year of Shedeur Sanders, you weren’t watching the same game I was.”
Mel Kiper Jr. sounds off on Shedeur Sanders’ critics.
“I don’t know what else the kid needs to do. Everything about Shedeur Sanders screams he’s the quarterback. People are gonna be like, ‘Oh, where’s he ranked?’ Forget that. Look at the interceptions that were off of Jerry… pic.twitter.com/q8dEavDyuF
— BrownsNation.com (@BrownsNationcom) January 7, 2026
While Kiper spoke glowingly of Sanders, he has a lot more question marks than he is willing to admit.
Sanders finished his first season with seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions, along with only completing 56.6% of his passes. This ranked him 46th, with an F grade, on PFSN’s NFL QB impact metric.
It would not be a surprise for the Browns to look for other options at quarterback this offseason. The Browns do not have a significant investment in Sanders, so if they can drastically improve the position, they should consider it.
With the Browns selecting 6th overall, there will likely not be a quarterback worth taking there. That means the Browns could look to free agency or a potential trade to upgrade the position if they do not think Sanders is the quarterback of the future.
