It comes as no surprise that the Cleveland Browns have had a terrible season. Despite having very talented players on defense, not having a reliable quarterback in this league completely limits you. Just remember that the franchise started the preseason with four quarterbacks, all with an equal chance to be the starter-which basically means they didn’t truly have one.
And that’s exactly how things played out. The Browns started with Joe Flacco, who posted a 1-3 record before losing his starting job. Dillon Gabriel followed, going 1-5 before losing the role after suffering a concussion. That opened the door for Shedeur Sanders, who is currently leading the offense and has a similar record to the others. So far, Deion Sanders’ son is 1-4.
Even though the records are similar, Shedeur Sanders has looked much better than both Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel. The results might have been different had Sanders been the starter earlier, but he was always the Browns’ last quarterback option until necessity forced him into the role. And honestly, he hasn’t done badly.
Cleveland Browns rookies have brought hope
After such a disastrous season, there’s no doubt that Kevin Stefanski-despite being a two-time Head Coach of the Year-is on the hot seat. However, one factor could keep him in place: the rookie class that he and the general manager selected in the most recent Draft.
Most of them have delivered. On defense, both Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger have performed well. Despite his injury in the last game, Quinshon Judkins took over the ground game. And the biggest standout has been tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who already has five touchdowns and is clearly a perfect fit in Kevin Stefanski’s system.
Of course, Shedeur Sanders shouldn’t be overlooked. While he still needs plenty of development, he has shown intriguing traits and brought a different energy to the offense. Former NFL defensive star JJ Watt highlighted the promising future of the Browns’ rookies on The Pat McAfee Show: “The Cleveland Browns have a ton of rookies that are playing well. There’s been some good stuff from Shedeur Sanders and I think there’s some things to get excited about.”
Now it’s up to Browns owner Jimmy Haslam to decide, but this rookie class could earn Kevin Stefanski the benefit of the doubt for one more year-a coach who has already taken Cleveland to the playoffs twice.
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