Shedeur Sanders Faces Uphill Battle in Browns Quarterback Competition

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders showed promise in his rookie season in 2025. However, his performance has not impressed executives and coaches around the league. A survey by The Athletic placed him last among 35 quarterbacks in their 2026 NFL quarterback tiers list.

An unnamed defensive coordinator remarked, “I’d sleep like a baby if I got to play him every week.” This sentiment reflects the critical appraisal of Sanders’ abilities. An executive added, “He’s inaccurate at all three levels. I can’t tell if he is going to get better, but there’s a huge gap between him and competent QB play.”

The tiers ranked quarterbacks from best (Tier 1) to worst (Tier 5) and Sanders received one Tier 3 vote, 37 Tier 4 votes, and 12 Tier 5 votes. “He’s not an on-time player, can’t really read through the coverages, is a little bit heavy-footed. He is thicker and harder to tackle than expected, but you shouldn’t lose to him,” another coordinator commented.

Sanders now faces a competition at Browns training camp. Deshaun Watson is healthy and competing for the starting role in new head coach Todd Monken’s system. Sanders initially became the starter in the last six games of the Browns’ 2025 season. He threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and ten interceptions with a completion rate of just 56.6%.

Could Monken’s offensive approach aid Sanders? A voter highlighted Monken’s potential impact, stating, “Todd Monken is a great reset… Shedeur gets a fresh start with a no-nonsense, offensive-oriented coach who did a really good job with Lamar Jackson.” The voter emphasized the importance of Sanders investing in his professional development to unlock potential improvement.

Monken maintains an open QB competition, with Sanders, Watson, and Dillon Gabriel vying for the position. Watson, who ranks 31st among the 35 quarterbacks, has also returned from an Achilles injury. The Browns will measure their quarterbacks’ progress during their first preseason game against the Bears on August 15.