The Cleveland Browns added tension to a quarterback room that was already walking a tightrope, especially after Deshaun Watson’s rehab putting him in the QB1 conversations with Shedeur Sanders.
After passing on Sanders early in 2025 and forcing him to wait, Cleveland now circles back with yet another signal-caller, drafting Taylen Green in the sixth round. And it only raises questions about belief, direction, and whether the franchise is fully committed to its young starter.
Shedeur Sanders Needs Coach’s Backing To Get His Confidence Back
The uncertainty of drafting Green didn’t sit well with Skip Bayless, who didn’t hold back when reacting to the move.
He wrote on his X: “WHY? WHY? WHY? Browns draft another QB, Taylen Green, top of R6. Freakish big athlete who throws it pretty well and definitely can run. BUT THE BROWNS DON’T NEED ANOTHER QB. THEY HAVE 3, WITH SHEDEUR THE STARTER. SHOW SOME FAITH IN HIM.”
The frustration is a mix of the roster math and the timing. Sanders is entering a critical Year 2 window, and instead of backing him, Cleveland just added another variable to an already crowded equation that includes $230 million Watson and Dillon Gabriel.
WHY? WHY? WHY? Browns draft another QB, Taylen Green, top of R6. Freakish big athlete who throws it pretty well and definitely can run. BUT THE BROWNS DON’T NEED ANOTHER QB. THEY HAVE 3, WITH SHEDEUR THE STARTER. SHOW SOME FAITH IN HIM.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 25, 2026
To his credit, Sanders showed some promise in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans. He went off for 364 yards, 3 touchdowns, and a rushing score, joining Joe Burrow as one of the only rookies in the Super Bowl era to hit those marks in a single game.
He also became the first Cleveland Browns QB with 300-plus yards, three passing TDs, and a rushing score in one outing, while his four 50-plus yard completions in his first three starts put him in a tier matched only by Aaron Rodgers since 2000. So, that’s where Bayless’ frustrations spurt from.
From the front office perspective, this is about traits and long-term bets. General manager Andrew Berry framed it as standard roster building, emphasizing the need for depth at the most volatile position in football.
Berry said, “We do believe in keeping three on the active roster and ideally a fourth on the practice squad. It’s an important position. There is attrition throughout the year. And I think the other element is that it’s never a problem to have too many good players.”
Head coach Todd Monken echoed that logic, pointing to Green’s rare athletic profile. “I just think at that point in the draft, you’re looking for players that have traits, elite traits, which he has. Something you think you can work with and give yourself a chance to develop. We’re just looking forward to get to work with him.”
The numbers back it up. A 4.36 forty, a 43.5-inch vertical, and an 11-foot-2 broad jump are not normal quarterback metrics. Over 12,000 total yards and 94 total touchdowns in college.
He finished last season as the No. 27 overall signal-caller on PFSN’s CFB QB Impact metric, with an impact score of 84.9.
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So, the intrigue becomes obvious. But so do the concerns. Turnovers, inconsistent mechanics, and raw processing still define his profile.
That’s where the disconnect lies. Cleveland sees a developmental lottery ticket. Critics see a layered message… and even if not, it just hinders Sanders’ growth.
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Sanders, who should be getting runway to stabilize and grow, now has to navigate around the avoidable competition, even if Green is unlikely to factor in immediately.
The Browns insist this doesn’t change the hierarchy, and realistically, it shouldn’t. Green projects as a package player at best in Year 1, someone who might be used situationally while refining his game behind the scenes.
