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Cleveland Browns: Is Shedeur Sanders the Front Runner to be the Starting Quarterback in 2026?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Glenn Kaplan | Last updated Mar 18, 2026 2:07 PM ET

The Cleveland Browns every year always have a question about the quarterback position. It seems like this has been ongoing ever since the franchise has existed. Cleveland started three different quarterbacks last season, and they were Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Joe Flacco.

The Browns had a 5-12 record. With that bad record, they fired head coach Kevin Stefanski after missing the playoffs for the second straight season. General manager Andrew Berry was able to keep his job, however. Cleveland decided to hire Todd Monken as the new head coach. He was the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator last season.

In the process of this hiring, the Browns lost Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator. More importantly, who's going to be the front runner for Cleveland's starting quarterback job in 2026?

Zac Jackson of the Athletic Believes That Shedeur Sanders Should be the Front Runner

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during a game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Aug. 16, 2025. Kyle Ross-Imagn ImagesKyle Ross-Imagn Images

Zac Jackson of the Athletic wrote about who should be the potential front runner for the Browns quarterback job for the 2026 NFL season. Jackson thinks that Sanders should have the edge over players like Deshaun Watson and Gabriel.

He said, "Berry remains in charge of the Browns’ roster, and they remain in a perpetual quarterback carousel after having five different starters in 2023, four in 2024 and three last season. Even if the Browns are mostly playing for the future in 2026 — and even if there is some internal belief that Watson would be ready if called upon — Sanders stands as the best current option.

Later this spring, it looks like we’ll get to see what he does with his chances to impress the folks in charge."

Sanders last season completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He is very raw and has a lot of work to do, but the truth is that Sanders might be the best option for the Browns in 2026. Gabriel might be a backup at best in the NFL and Watson hasn't played in over a year.

If the 2026 season does not go well for Cleveland, maybe Berry gets fired as general manager and this could also mean that Monken could be a one-and-done as head coach. It will depend upon how well Sanders progresses as a quarterback despite being a fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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