Browns QB position: 2 scenarios with Shedeur Sanders’ future are wide ranging

In the NFL, you can tell instantly when your team has a “franchise quarterback.” The term “franchise quarterback” is thrown around loosely now, with quarterbacks being dubbed “the savior” earlier than expected. As for the Cleveland Browns, finding a franchise quarterback has been the team’s main issue since returning. After a decent showing against the Las Vegas Raiders, rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has fans wondering if the Browns have found their “guy”.

Slow down.

It seems clear Sanders will start the rest of the season, and he will get a fair evaluation process to see if he’s worth investing in. There are two potential scenarios that could play out:

Beneficial scenario for both parties: QB Shedeur Sanders plays well, the team decides to invest in him

Looking at the remaining schedule for the Browns, the team doesn’t play a top 10 defense in terms of defensive EPA for the remaining games.

• Week 13: San Francisco 49ers (25th)

• Week 14: Tennessee Titans (28th)

• Week 15: Chicago Bears (22nd)

• Week 16: Buffalo Bills (21st)

• Week 17: Pittsburgh Steelers (23rd)

• Week 18: Cincinnati Bengals (32nd)

Granted, the Bills and Steelers are in the top 15/16 range in terms of defensive success rate, but the defenses aren’t as threatening. The Cleveland offense is still bad, but with Sanders, the unit has a bit of a threat in terms of the passing game.

Sanders has the ability to push the ball down the field and somewhat create out of structure. The young QB has his flaws (which can be fixed), but it’s clear the offense has a bit more kick in their step despite a below-average wide receiver room and an aging offensive line.

Sanders playing well down the stretch would allow the team to retool the offense in the offseason and see what he can do with a better group of players, along with him having a full offseason. It’s clear that Sanders has supporters in his corner, and if he plays well enough, the team wouldn’t mind him taking the reins full-time.

Not ideal to some, but realistic: Sanders plays average, but the team decides to draft a QB in the 2026 NFL draft anyway

The current QB class of this upcoming draft hasn’t been as spectacular as some projected but it’s clear two of the top prospects are guys worth taking a swing on. Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza and Oregon Ducks QB Dante Moore are QB1 and QB2. The rankings between the two are interchangeable but the film backs it up.

Alabama QB Ty Simpson is a bit of a wild card if he chooses to leave. It’s possible Sanders puts together decent performances, but they aren’t enough to keep the team from drafting a quarterback. Why? Mendoza and Moore are better prospects with potentially higher ceilings than Sanders. It’s not a slight to Sanders, but Mendoza and Moore have shown a lot this season that the Browns would be foolish not to draft either one if their current starter is just okay.

If the team wins enough to get them out of picking in the top 5, then it’s possible the team could explore a trade up, but if the team doesn’t win another game despite decent performances from Sanders, it won’t stop them from drafting another quarterback with a potential new coach leading the charge.

No one knows how the rest of the season is going to play out for the Browns QB situation, so it’s too early to say that the Browns have their franchise quarterback, but it’s possible he plays well enough that the team chooses to invest in him. However, the team deciding to draft a QB and potentially trading Sanders for more draft capital is also a possible scenario that should be considered.

Which scenario do you think is more likely with Sanders after the season? Do you think there is a third option besides those listed above?

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