As the Cleveland Browns look for their next head coach, quarterback Shedeur Sanders may be more of a hindrance than a selling point for potential candidates.
The Browns parted ways with Kevin Stefanski on Monday after a 5-12 campaign. Cleveland has already put in interview requests for multiple candidates, including Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
However, The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd believes the Browns should seriously consider moving on from Sanders as they begin interviews with head-coaching candidates. Lloyd pointed to the constant discourse surrounding the young quarterback and warned it could quickly become a distraction, particularly if Cleveland enters another unsettled quarterback competition.
“I’ve said all along that Shedeur’s presence will be a hindrance to some guys. Some guy will take the job. They pay really well, and there are only 32 of them. Someone will take it. But there are candidates that will look at this and say, “Nope, I want nothing to do with that.” How could you?” Lloyd said on 92.3 The Fan. “Look at everything Kevin went through over the last year with Shedeur and some of the stupidity and nonsense that was out there. What coach would want to sign up for that? Particularly with Shedeur not playing well.”
Lloyd: Browns Not Mature Enough to Have Shedeur Sanders be Backup
Lloyd stopped short of placing the blame solely on Sanders, instead framing the situation as a broader organizational failure. In his view, the issue isn’t just the quarterback — it’s whether the Browns are equipped to handle the inevitable noise that comes with him.
“I’ve been pretty adamant that he shouldn’t be on this team. He’s not good enough to be the starter and this organization is not stable and mature enough to have him as the backup. They’ve proven that,” Lloyd said. “Are you going to draft another quarterback, put him atop Shedeur and all the stuff comes back again about when they’re going to play Shedeur? No thanks, hard pass.
“The unfortunate part is that I think he’s a really good young man. But it’s just all the nonsense that comes with him. That’s why he fell (in the draft). Teams didn’t want to deal with this and we saw it play out over the last year.”
Browns Don’t Commit to Shedeur Sanders
Over seven starts after taking over for Dillon Gabriel, 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.
Cleveland holds two first-round picks, including No. 6 overall, and general manager Andrew Berry said the team will explore all their options at the quarterback position.
“We’re going to do our work on the quarterback market,” Berry said. “It’s too important of a position and it’s something that has to be solidified.”
Gabriel will also return for the Browns, as will veteran Deshaun Watson, who will be in the final year of the $230 million fully guaranteed contract he signed in 2022.
Browns Urged to Dump Shedeur Sanders as Coaching Search Heats Up