The likelihood of Shedeur Sanders remaining the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback next season increased following a major decision from one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore announced Wednesday, January 14, that he will return to school for another season. Moore’s decision further thins an already limited quarterback class and all but removes Cleveland from contention for landing an early first-round passer.
“Moore’s decision is good news for Sanders, who’s hoping to be the Browns’ starter in 2026. With so few top-notch quarterbacks coming out, Sanders chances of being the Browns’ starter increase exponentially, although it will depend in part on what the new head coach wants,” Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com said.
Cabot noted that quarterbacks projected to go in the later rounds — like Miami’s Carson Beck, Oklahoma’s John Mateer, and Penn State’s Drew Allar — could be options. The Browns also hold pick No. 24 in the first round.
Browns Don’t Back Shedeur Sanders as Starter
Sanders started the final seven games of the season, going 3-4 while throwing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He flashed upside that far exceeded his fifth-round draft status, showing poise and playmaking ability in stretches. Still, the inconsistency in his audition left Cleveland without enough clarity to pencil him in as the unquestioned starter next season.
“We saw a lot of progress with Shedeur this year,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said in his end-of-season press conference. “That’s both mentally, physically, playing the position. He’s still very much a work in progress, like many rookie quarterbacks are. But I think we saw some really good things in terms of his playmaking, his accuracy, his ability to extend with his feet. And I think I’d also give him credit, as well as our offensive staff, for bringing him along in terms of his pocket management, his situational awareness and things of that nature.
“All being said, we’re going to do our work on the quarterback market. It’s too important of a position and it’s something that has to be solidified. I can’t sit here and tell you today whether the solution for or the starter in 2026 is internal or external. But it’s something that we’re going to work through over the next several weeks.”
Browns Head Coach Will Impact Shedeur Sanders’ Future
The Browns are still searching for their next head coach after firing Kevin Stefanski following a 5-12 campaign. As Berry acknowledged, the hire will play a significant role in shaping Cleveland’s quarterback plan moving forward.
Sanders believes he made meaningful strides during his seven starts and isn’t spending time worrying about a decision that ultimately isn’t his to make.
“I think I did what I was able to do, and I definitely grew from a lot of things, and I got experience now,” Sanders said. “Confidence-wise, I’m there. But that’s not in my hands. That’s not my decision. I can’t speak on what other people feel.”
The Browns will also have Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel under contract next season.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Gets ‘Exponentially’ Positive News