The Cleveland Browns have had a string of disappointing years since their surprise 2023 playoff appearance, and one of the main reasons why has been the quarterback position. No team in the NFL can win without having a solidified quarterback, so getting someone to fill that role in Cleveland is a priority.
Sometimes, an unknown in the quarterback room could be a team’s answer at that position, and for the Browns, that may be Shedeur Sanders. Still, that does not stop trade rumors from swirling.
NFL Hall of Famer Shoots Down Shedeur Sanders Trade Rumors
Last year, as the 2025 NFL Draft began, analysts believed Miami’s Cam Ward would be the first QB off the board and Sanders second. This turned out to be far from the truth; instead, Sanders fell all the way to the 5th round.
The team that drafted Sanders was the Browns, and they had already selected a QB earlier. Cleveland was not going to give the Colorado product the keys right away, and he would have to battle to earn that spot. Last season was nowhere near perfect, but when Sanders was the starter, he had some bright spots to feel excited about.
When a team does not have a starting QB, moments like the ones Sanders had must be valued and considered in the process of finding a starter. But there have still been rumors that the Browns would trade away the second-year QB if he loses the starting battle in Cleveland.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Giving up on a 5th round selection is pretty common in the NFL, but not when that selection is a QB that outperforms expectations. Quarterback development is one of the most important aspects of the NFL, and when discussing the Browns’ potential to trade away Sanders on “92.3 The Fan,” this is the main reason NFL Hall of Famer Joe Thomas believes Cleveland should not make that move:
“Shedeur was forced into action in the middle of the season last year before he was ready. And he has some high moments and some low moments, as you expect for any quarterback,” Thomas said, “He’s a development project, he’s got a lot of work to do, he’s got great skill sets, obviously that’s why he was selected, and he had such a great college career, but he needs time to develop.”
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Thomas then went on to talk about how it would make zero sense to trade Sanders for the rumored price of a 4th-round pick:
“If you’re just gonna throw him away for a 4th rounder or lower, it makes no sense whatsoever because we have no idea what he can be as our starting QB.”
“(Shedeur) needs time to develop… If you’re just gonna throw him away for a 4th rounder it makes no sense because we have no idea what he can be as our starting QB.”
📞@joethomas73 is opposed to the idea of trading Shedeur if he doesn’t win the starting job pic.twitter.com/9rRUoIZ1g7
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) June 30, 2026
Currently, the Browns have four quarterbacks on their roster: Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, Talen Green, and Sanders. With new staff in the building, the starting battle is wide open between Sanders and Watson, and we’ll get more clarity on everyone’s future after the training camp.
Even if he loses, as Thomas said above, there is no reason to trade him away given his potential. Yes, Sanders was ranked the third-worst quarterback in the league last year by PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, but he is a young player with room to develop. Giving up on him now seems too early.
