Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders showed moments of strong performance during his initial season in 2025, when he eventually earned a starting role.
However, these flashes appear to have been insufficient in the eyes of many league personnel. A recent evaluation of 2026 NFL quarterbacks, compiled from anonymous surveys of executives and coaches, placed Sanders last among the 35 ranked signal-callers.
"I’d sleep like a baby if I got to play him every week," an unnamed defensive coordinator was quoted as saying in the report.
Another executive commented on his struggles:
"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."
Evaluators' Perspectives on Sanders' Performance
The comprehensive ranking categorized quarterbacks into five tiers, from elite (Tier 1) to those facing significant challenges (Tier 5), followed by a general ranking vote. After collecting feedback from 50 executives and coaches, Sanders received just one vote in Tier 3, while accumulating 37 votes in Tier 4 and 12 votes in Tier 5.
A coordinator further elaborated on perceived weaknesses:
"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."
Rookie Season Statistics and Current Competition
Sanders is now engaged in another quarterback competition at the Browns' training camp. This season, he faces a healthy Deshaun Watson, who is also competing for the starting position within new head coach Todd Monken’s offensive scheme.
In 2025, after taking over as the starting quarterback for the final six games and winning his debut against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sanders threw for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns, but also accumulated 10 interceptions. The team likely sought a higher completion percentage, as he completed only 56.6% of his passes.
Monken's Potential Impact on Development
Despite the critical assessment, the influence of offensive-minded head coach Todd Monken is seen by some as a potential catalyst for Sanders' development. One voter expressed optimism about the new coaching environment:
"Todd Monken is a great reset in the same way Ben Johnson was a great reset in Chicago. Shedeur gets a fresh start with a no-nonsense, offensive-oriented coach who did a really good job with Lamar Jackson. If Shedeur has really invested in himself to be a professional quarterback, studying the playbook and knowing his assignments and being able to get the offense in and out of the huddle at an efficient clip, which he could not do last year, then there might be some upside."
Monken has consistently stated throughout the offseason that there will be a genuine positional competition in his first Browns camp. Sanders, Watson, and Dillon Gabriel are currently competing for the starting role.
Watson's Status and Preseason Outlook
Deshaun Watson also appeared in the rankings, placing 31st among the 35 quarterbacks. He did not play during the 2025 season as he continued recovering from an Achilles injury sustained during the 2024 campaign.
The Browns will get their initial competitive action on August 15 when they face the Bears in their first preseason game.
