The Cleveland Browns finalized their initial 53-man roster Sunday with Shedeur Sanders still in the quarterback room. That did not end the debate surrounding him.
Browns Fans Push Back on Tony Grossi’s Shedeur Sanders Talk
A new discussion involving longtime Browns analyst Tony Grossi and Sanders’ trade value drew another wave of backlash from fans who believe the quarterback has been judged too harshly.
Cleveland’s official roster listed Sanders as Deshaun Watson’s backup, while Dillon Gabriel was placed on injured reserve with a back injury and designated to return. However, Grossi believes that Sanders’ trade value is much less than Gabriel’s, or else some team would have already made an offer for him to the Browns.
Grossi pointed to Sanders’ fame and said Gabriel fits better as a backup quarterback because there is no noise around him.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
One fan dismissed Grossi’s assessment as speculation and accused the analyst of having a personal issue with Sanders.
“This is all speculation by Tony. He doesn’t like Shedeur, and it doesn’t make sense. Sanders is the best QB on our roster. Period,” the fan wrote in an X post.
This is all speculation by Tony. He doesn’t like Sheduer..and it doesn’t make sense. Sanders is the best QB on our roster. Period
— Willie O (@_chopper86) August 31, 2026
Another user was just as skeptical of the commentary.
“Grossi is so full of crap. He’s always trying to stoke division,” the fan wrote in another post.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
A third fan took the accusation much further, claiming Grossi “HATES Shedeur with a passion” and has a “Wicked Agenda” against the Browns quarterback in a separate response.
Those are the fan’s allegations, not established facts about Grossi’s coverage.
@TonyGrossi HATES Shedeur with a passion. An Evil man with a Wicked Agenda. Shedeur doesn’t bother anyone and is always a class act and he hates to see it. Cleveland media has to be stopped
— MoCrazy4U (@intentionalelv8) August 31, 2026
“They can’t stand Shedeur but they can’t stop talking about him. Give it up jeesh,” another fan wrote in an X reply.
One more user questioned why Gabriel was not receiving the same trade scrutiny.
“I would like to hear Tony on the reason why no team didn’t trade for Gabriel…” the fan wrote in another reply.
I would like to hear Tony on the reason why no team didn’t trade for Gabriel…
— SASS (@OracleNysa) August 31, 2026
The reactions fit a larger tension that has followed Sanders since Cleveland drafted him in the fifth round in 2025. Grossi has repeatedly scrutinized Sanders’ standing within the organization, while a vocal segment of the fan base has argued that the quarterback receives disproportionate criticism from local media.
Sanders Opens 2026 as Deshaun Watson’s Backup
Whatever the debate about his market value, Cleveland’s immediate plan is settled. The Browns’ official roster lists Watson as the starter and Sanders as his backup, with rookie Taylen Green also on the active roster. Gabriel must miss at least 4 games after being placed on injured reserve.
Sanders still has plenty to prove on the field. He completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across 8 games last season. His 63.0 QB Impact grade ranked No. 37 among 38 qualifying quarterbacks.
That production gives analysts legitimate football reasons to question what another team would surrender for him. It does not establish that Cleveland intends to trade him, and the Browns kept Sanders through final roster cuts while positioning him one snap away from the starting job.
For the fans criticizing Grossi, that distinction is central to the frustration. Sanders’ long-term future remains debatable, but Cleveland’s current depth chart says he is more than a hypothetical trade chip. He is the Browns’ QB2 heading into Week 1.
