The Cleveland Browns have thrown Shedeur Sanders a lifeline. After a rocky professional debut, his starting job appeared uncertain; however, recent reports about the team’s draft approach give the young quarterback another opportunity.
The Browns endured a brutal season. They opened with Joe Flacco under center, but when the veteran faltered, rookie Dillon Gabriel was given the reins.
Gabriel also failed to provide the spark head coach Kevin Stefanski was seeking. Eventually, Sanders received his long-awaited chance, though his path was anything but smooth.
Despite constant quarterback changes, the Browns’ broader shortcomings proved costly. The team finished 5-12, forcing yet another reset.
Monken’s blueprint for Cleveland’s offense
The offseason brought sweeping changes: Stefanski’s departure, Todd Monken’s arrival as head coach, and the return of star quarterback Deshaun Watson.
According to NFL Network insider Cameron Wolfe, the Browns’ plan for the 2026 NFL Draft is to reshape the offense rather than pursue a first-round quarterback, despite having two first-round picks.
“I talked to their general manager [Andrew Berry] several times over the season,” Wolfe said. “He told me, ‘I feel like we’re very close to set on defense,'” while acknowledging lingering offensive concerns.
Berry reportedly admitted:
We have needs at wide receiver, offensive line, and of course, figuring out that quarterback question.
The good and bad news for Sanders
The good news, Wolfe explained, is: “Don’t be surprised if they don’t select a quarterback in the first round of this draft.” That means the position will be decided through competition rather than immediate replacement.
Sanders showed flashes of promise in his eight starts. However, Watson, who fully recovered from the Achilles tendon tear that sidelined him for the entire 2025 season, is already throwing again with quarterbacks coach Quincy Avery.
This presents a formidable challenge for Sanders, who must prove more than potential if he hopes to retain the starting role with the Browns.
Read the full article here
