Shedeur Sanders as Browns QB1 in 2026? NFL insider reveals surprise verdict

Shedeur Sanders as Browns QB1 in 2026? NFL insider reveals surprise verdict originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There's one final opportunity for Shedeur Sanders to convince the organization that he should be crowned the Browns starting quarterback for 2026.

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That comes this Sunday in Cincinnati against the Bengals in what will be the rookie's seventh career start.

No matter the outcome, has Sanders done enough? ESPN Cleveland's longtime team analyst Tony Grossi doesn't think so.

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Is another training camp of uncertainty at the position coming for Browns fans? If the franchise chooses not to draft a QB in the first round of this April's NFL Draft, then the answer is 'yes'.

The dreaded 'quarterback competition' phrase seems to be coming. The damning words spoken by a club when they don't have a definitive answer in the game's most important role.

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Grossi explained above what the competition would look like, "(Dillon) Gabriel's in it, and who knows maybe (Deshaun) Watson's in it, let's see how mini-camp season goes".

A QB room of Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson. ESPN host Tony Rizzo asked Grossi if he'd be alright with that trio. "It looks like we're going to do it over again. We're going to punt on the quarterback, and wait for 2027," Grossi said.

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The great unknown of course is who will be making these decisions for the Browns? Strong rumors of head coach and front office changes leave a plethora of options open for next season.

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