The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback situation remains one of the biggest storylines of their offseason, and former Colorado star Shedeur Sanders is right in the middle of it. After an uneven rookie year that still showed flashes of poise, Sanders appears determined to make a stronger push heading into 2026.
Jimmy Haslam Explains Why Shedeur Sanders Has Cleveland Believing
Meanwhile, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam offered a notable update this week, pointing to the young signal-caller’s commitment behind the scenes. With head coach Todd Monken in place and a wide-open competition looming, Sanders is clearly treating this offseason like a crucial turning point. For a franchise still searching for long-term stability under center, that is an encouraging sign.
Speaking this week at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Haslam explained why Sanders’ approach over the winter has stood out inside the building. The Browns’ owner revealed that the 2025 fifth-round pick has spent much of the offseason in the Browns rather than disappearing after the season, which he believes says a lot about the quarterback’s seriousness.
“I was in Cleveland two or three weeks ago, and was working out early, and he was coming in. He’s been in Cleveland most of the winter, and I think that says a lot for his dedication to wanting to be an NFL quarterback and understanding what it takes,” Haslam said, via ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.
Haslam followed that up by noting that Sanders has not only stayed around the facility but also appears to have made visible physical progress while preparing for his second season. He noted the difficulty college players often face when transitioning to the professional ranks, especially at the most demanding position in the game.
“His body looks better. I think he’s been working hard. So, I think it’s hard for a lot of college kids to understand what it takes to play in the NFL and particularly quarterback. I think Shedeur got an education in that, and my instincts are he’ll come back ready to play,” said Haslam.
Those comments are important because Sanders’ rookie season was a learning experience in every sense. He started seven games for the Browns, finishing 3-4 while completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, affirming that the raw talent was evident, but so were the growing pains.
The Browns is not handing Sanders anything at the moment. He is expected to compete with Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel, while the possibility of another quarterback addition still lingers before training camp. Watson, who missed the 2025 season after re-rupturing his Achilles tendon in January 2025, is expected to be healthy for the start of voluntary workouts on April 7.
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That makes this offseason especially important for Sanders, who now has a chance to impress head coach Todd Monken in a fresh offensive environment. Haslam made it clear that the Browns are embracing that internal battle rather than trying to script a result in advance.
“Competition’s good for all of us, okay?” Haslam said, via Cleveland.com. “And they’re both competitors. And listen, would things have been different if Dillon doesn’t get a concussion in the Baltimore game? I don’t know. So let’s not rule him out that quickly either. We’ve got three guys who have been successful at various levels and let’s see how the competition goes. And we have a head coach who’s been very good at developing all kinds of different quarterbacks.”
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He also pushed back on the idea that Sanders’ profile or popularity will influence the decision. Haslam emphasized that the final call belongs to the coaching staff, specifically Monken, who will prioritize winning above all else.
“First of all, I’m not making the decision,” Haslam said. “Todd will make that decision, and I assure you he’s going to go on who can win the most games first.”
That leaves Sanders with a simple path forward: keep building, keep improving, and prove he can command the offense when OTAs and camp begin. If he carries this offseason momentum into the summer, the Browns may finally get a real answer at their QB1 situation.
