Shedeur Sanders closed last season as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback, but that does not guarantee he will return in the same role — or even be on the roster — next year.
Sanders started the final seven games, going 3-4 while throwing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He showed flashes of upside, but his performance was not definitive enough to cement his status as Cleveland’s unquestioned starter heading into the offseason.
There is also the reality that Sanders has become a polarizing figure, backed by a vocal and passionate supporter base. That dynamic could complicate matters for an incoming rookie or any quarterback brought in to challenge for the job. Browns reporter Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram believes that factor could influence how the organization approaches the position.
“If you draft a rookie — which doesn’t seem likely right now, but things change between now and the draft — I don’t think you can bring back Shedeur Sanders. I think it’s just too much,” Petrak said on 92.3 The Fan. “But if you brought in a Mac Jones or Malik Willis, or drafted Garrett Nussmeier, could you keep Shedeur and have them compete? I could see that. But I don’t think it’s a guarantee that Shedeur comes back next year, depending on how the quarterback situation plays out.”
Browns QB Dillon Gabriel Also Questionable to Return
The Browns invested two draft picks in quarterbacks last season, selecting Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth. But there’s a growing sense that Gabriel may not factor into the team’s plans moving forward.
Former head coach Kevin Stefanski was viewed as a strong proponent of drafting Gabriel, taking him earlier than many evaluators projected. Gabriel took over as the starter in Week 5 after Joe Flacco but did little to establish himself as a long-term option. He finished the season with 937 passing yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions, while rarely pushing the ball downfield or generating explosive plays.
That lack of upside has left Gabriel’s status far from secure moving forward.
“I think Dillon Gabriel comes back, but I don’t see him as a starting quarterback,” Petrak said. “If you keep Deshaun Watson, keep Shedeur and add someone else, is Dillon Gabriel guaranteed a roster spot next year? No. I wouldn’t say either guy is on extremely solid footing, but Shedeur is definitely on more stable ground than Dillon because, in my eyes, he played better than Dillon did.”
Browns Expect Deshaun Watson Back Next Season
The Browns quarterback with the most certainty heading into next season is Deshaun Watson. After spending the year on the sideline while recovering from two Achilles surgeries, Watson is entering the final season of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract. While his role remains unclear, Browns general manager Andrew Berry has all but confirmed that Watson will be on the roster.
“First, I’ll say we’re very pleased with how Deshaun went through and attacked his rehab this past year, how he engaged with the team, what he did in the meeting rooms. Very pleased with the progress that he made in that regard,” Berry said. “Look, I can never predict the future, but right now we do anticipate him being on the 2026 team. But we have a long way to go before we get to that point with any player.”
Watson has gone just 9-10 as the starter in Cleveland, missing chunks of time due to injuries and suspension. He hasn’t played more than seven games in a season since 2020.
