The Cleveland Browns find themselves at a pivotal moment in their 2025 NFL season, with quarterback Shedeur Sanders at the center of growing discussion about the franchise’s long-term direction under center.
After a rough outing in a recent blowout loss, where Sanders threw three interceptions and completed 18 of 35 passes for 177 yards, questions have intensified about whether Cleveland should stay the course with the rookie or pursue a new signal-caller in the upcoming draft.
Despite the struggles on the field and the AFC North team slipping to 3-11, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot offered a notable perspective on Sanders‘ future.
On The Dawgs – A Cleveland Browns Podcast, she weighed in on how the organization may approach the contentious quarterback situation.
“I just have a feeling that they’re going to analyse the whole thing and decide they want to move forward with him,” Cabot said. “I can’t say for sure yet, but it sort of has that vibe. Feels like it’s almost kind of trending in that direction.”
Cabot‘s sentiment suggests that, even in the face of mounting criticism and on-field inconsistencies, the Browns might resist the growing chorus pushing them to invest in a top quarterback prospect next spring.
Draft pressure builds
Much of the external pressure on Cleveland stems from projections around the 2026 NFL Draft, where Indiana’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza has rapidly emerged as a coveted talent.
Mendoza‘s spectacular season, culminating in Player of the Year honors after leading Indiana to a perfect 13-0 record and a top College Football Playoff seed, has turned heads across the league.
At 6-foot-3 and with an advanced command of the field, Mendoza has been hailed by some analysts as a potential franchise changer. Scouts praise his poise under pressure and ability to slow down defenders, traits that could translate well to the professional ranks.
Speculation has intensified to the point where Cleveland’s draft position, currently fourth overall, could make them a logical candidate to trade up for one of the top quarterback prospects available.
ESPN draft expert Todd McShay explicitly outlined this possibility, noting: “I personally think the most reasonable [team to trade up] given these circumstances would be Cleveland going from (No. 4) to (No. 1).”
McShay further questioned the job security of Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski if the 2025 season ends in disappointing fashion.
This intersection of short-term performance and long-term planning places Cleveland in a uniquely challenging position. With two first-round picks in 2026, their own and one acquired from Jacksonville, the organization has significant draft capital that could be used to shore up multiple areas of need, from the offensive line to the receiving corps, in addition to quarterback.
The looming question remains: does Cleveland trust Sanders to grow into the leader they envisioned when they traded up to select him in the fifth round of the 2025 draft, or do they pivot toward the next prospect in Mendoza?
With Sanders focused on improving and the Browns still technically in a developmental phase, the offseason could be defined by how the franchise balances faith in a young quarterback against the allure of a new possible face of the franchise.
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