The Cleveland Browns did not commit to Shedeur Sanders as their quarterback of the future following the firing of Kevin Stefanski on Monday.
Sanders endured a rollercoaster rookie season in Cleveland. After sliding to the fifth round of the draft, he opened the year buried on the depth chart. A series of roster moves and injuries eventually thrust him into the starting lineup, giving him an unexpected opportunity to evaluate his long-term outlook with the franchise.
Over seven starts, Sanders threw for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. While he showed flashes of growth and development during that stretch, it wasn’t enough for the Browns to commit to him as their unquestioned starter moving forward.
When explicitly asked about Sanders, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam declined to get into “specifics,” instead pointing to broader issues on offense.
“I’m not going to get into specifics,” Haslam said. “We have a lot of work to do on the roster, particularly on the offensive side.”
Browns Face Decision at QB With Shedeur Sanders
The Browns hold the No. 6 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft. They also have a pick later in the first round, thanks to a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Browns general manager Andrew Berry declined to back Sanders as the starter moving forward, saying the team will explore all avenues.
“We’re gonna do our work on the quarterback market,” Berry said. “I can’t tell you today if the starter for 2026 is internal or external.”
Sanders saw extended action as the starter but did so behind a patchwork offensive line and with a limited group of playmakers. If the Browns opt not to take a quarterback in the first round, they could instead prioritize upgrades elsewhere on offense to better support the position. The offense is also expected to look different next season following Stefanski’s firing.
“Tough day for the organization, tough day for me personally. Kevin is like family. We all owe him a debt of gratitude and appreciate for the level of success he brought,” Berry said.
Shedeur Sanders Says Browns Starting QB Not My Decision
Sanders said the extended run gave him valuable experience, though he acknowledged the decision on his future is out of his control.
“I think I did what I was able to do, and I definitely grew from a lot of things, and I got experience now. So, I’m always the same, confidence-wise, I’m there,” Sanders said. “But like, that’s not in my hands. Like, that’s not my decision. I can’t speak on what other people feel.”
Sanders said that the decision on the next head coach is not something he’s going to focus on or think too much about. He’s going to focus on what he can control, which is his improvement.
“I can just focus on me. I can just focus on what I can do and getting better and the players and the teammates that we got,” Sanders said. “When it comes to those grown-up decisions, that’s not me.”
The other quarterbacks on the roster for next season are Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson.
Browns Owner Delivers Bad News for Shedeur Sanders After Stefanski Firing