Former Browns Exec Was Not Impressed With Shedeur Sanders

Quarterback evaluations can swing wildly over the course of a single game. A slow start can bring out the critics, and a strong finish can quiet them just as fast. That is part of what makes judging a young quarterback in real time so tricky. On Sunday, one former Browns executive made his opinion on Shedeur Sanders known before the game was over.

Joe Banner, who served as the Browns’ CEO, took aim at Sanders during the first half of the loss to the Saints.

“Hope Browns fans are seeing why Watson started, and Sanders isn’t the answer. I hope all the pundits are watching who had him at two in draft and thought he fell because of something about Dion,” Banner said.

Hope Browns fans are seeing why Watson started, and Sanders isn’t the answer. I hope all the pundits are watching who had him at two in draft and thought he fell because of something about Dion.

— Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) November 8, 2026

The timing of Banner’s post matters. It went out before halftime, when Sanders had completed just 5 of 8 passes for 38 yards and had been sacked twice. The Browns had only 80 total yards at the break, and the offense looked a lot like it had in Pittsburgh a week earlier.

At that point, Banner’s criticism had some support. The passing game was not producing, and Sanders was struggling to get the offense into a rhythm.

The 2nd half told a different story. Sanders threw a 64-yard touchdown to KC Concepcion to take the lead late in the 4th quarter, set up the game-tying field goal with a 30-yard throw to Jerry Jeudy while taking a hit, and found Harold Fannin Jr. for a 39-yard touchdown in overtime. He finished with 297 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions.

Banner’s comment about the draft also revisits an old debate. Some analysts projected Sanders as a top pick before he slid to the 5th round in 2025, and plenty of people believed off-field factors tied to his father, Deion Sanders, played a role. Banner clearly thinks the slide was about his ability.

Banner has been a frequent critic of the current Browns regime, and his opinions often draw strong reactions from Browns fans. This one is sure to be no different, especially given how the game ended.

The real answer will come from Monken this week. Deshaun Watson has cleared the concussion protocol, and the Browns have to decide who starts against the Houston Texans on Sunday.