Shedeur Sanders gets huge vote of confidence for Browns starting QB position

Shedeur Sanders is back with the Cleveland Browns for a second season. So, will Sanders take on the starting quarterback role, or will Deshaun Watson earn that title after, finally, being healthy again? That's one of the big questions the Browns are facing this season.

While many NFL analysts think Watson will get the start and finally get a chance to prove his worth, that may not be the case. There's obviously a lot of media attention around Sanders, and the more eyeballs on the Browns, the better. But, Sanders also had a decent season in 2025 for a rookie.

He appeared in eight games, throwing for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, according to ESPN research. He also had a 68.12 passer rating.

Shedeur Sanders could land the Browns' starting QB position

Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report thinks Sanders should be the starting quarterback for the Browns in 2026. In a piece out on Tuesday, he names a handful of moves each franchise should make right now, and for the Browns, it was naming Sanders the starter.

"Everything is aimed toward getting a franchise quarterback," he writes in the piece. "Shedeur Sanders must be named the starter now so the organization knows whether he's capable of filling that role."

So, what about Watson? Sobleski writes that he's "nothing but a failed trade and the worst contract in league history. His insertion to create a quarterback competition serves no purpose." That hurts.

From a marketing perspective, it makes sense for the Browns to go with Sanders as their starting quarterback as soon as possible and see where it goes. If he flops, then they can start looking at the 2027 draft and other quarterback options for the future.