After finishing the season 5-12, the Cleveland Browns are working hard to turn their franchise around. One of the biggest issues that must be answered, besides the next head coach, is the quarterback position, but one option on the roster may be the correct choice, and he just got some good news.
Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders Is Heading to the Pro Bowl
With the New England Patriots heading into the Super Bowl, QB Drake Maye’s spot on the Pro Bowl roster was up for grabs.
There were a couple of options for the NFL from both the rookie class and veterans around the league, but in the end, they went with Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders.
Sources: #Browns QB Shedeur Sanders has been added to the Pro Bowl roster as a replacement.
Sanders is the first 5th-round rookie to make a Pro Bowl since Puka Nacua. pic.twitter.com/RTDy0J9l1f
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 26, 2026
This decision by the NFL was a bit of a surprise to many. Sanders, although a well-known rookie and prospect in last year’s draft, was a fifth-round selection and did not have a good year. Yes, he was dealing with Cleveland’s coaching issues and offensive line struggles, but the play on the field wasn’t something to be proud of.
Looking at PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, Sanders this season was ranked 46th among all 48 eligible QBs in the metric. Clearly, there may have been better options for the NFL to choose from.
48 NFL quarterbacks qualified for PFSN’s QB Impact metric in 2025.
Shedeur Sanders ranked 46th, with a 56.9 grade. 🤔 https://t.co/6FfjfekyY0 pic.twitter.com/VsBVvbQlDS
— PFSN (@PFSN365) January 26, 2026
Going back to the impact metric, let’s compare Sanders’ season with some of the other rookie QBs around the league. New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart was ranked 18th overall, and New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough was ranked 23rd.
MORE: 2026 7-Round NFL Mock Draft
Now, regarding the Pro Bowl, these two are on the NFC side, so they could not make it over Sanders, but Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward could have. Yes, really struggled throughout the season and was 45th overall in the rankings, but he played a full season and was still ranked a bit better.
Still, this was the choice the NFL made, and as NFL insider Jordan Schultz mentioned, Sanders will be the first 5th-round rookie to make a Pro Bowl roster since star Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua. Making the roster is a major honor for Sanders, and with it, he has added his name to some history.
Time will tell whether the Browns end up going with Sanders as their next QB, but given the group of QB prospects in 2026 and the lack of veteran options in free agency, Cleveland may be better off going with the young player. If they do move forward with Sanders, it will be a big season for the young QB to prove he can lead the franchise into the future.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
