It was always going to be an uphill battle for Shedeur Sanders to make an impact as a rookie in 2025. The Cleveland Browns had drafted another quarterback two rounds before him, and there were two veterans already on the roster. Add to that an odd relationship with head coach Kevin Stefanski and the odds were stacked against Sanders.
But everything broke right for Sanders over the course of the season. The veterans were traded away, the other rookie suffered a concussion and Sanders took advantage of his newfound starting quarterback role. Even with Stefanski departing this offseason, Sanders didn’t do enough as a rookie to fully convince general manager Andrew Berry and the front office that he’s the long-term answer at quarterback.
With so much money tied up in Deshaun Watson, and the veteran seemingly healthy, he will get a real chance at beating out Sanders ahead of the 2026 NFL season. There may be an addition to the quarterback room through the 2026 NFL Draft, too.
Browns targeting offensive tackle and wide receiver in Round 1 of 2026 NFL Draft
But it won’t happen early on, as the Browns want to do everything in their power to surround Sanders and Watson with the necessary tools to succeed. As NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe recently pointed out, Cleveland looks set to target offensive linemen and wide receivers for their two first-round picks.
The team needs help at offensive tackle and a playmaker at wide receiver. Berry will wait to see how the first round plays out in order to determine which position should be taken first, but it’s clear that the front office knows whoever is at quarterback needs help.
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