Quarterback competitions are rarely decided where fans can see them. Preseason games and highlight clips shape public opinion, but coaches make their decisions after weeks of practice, meetings and walkthroughs that never reach a broadcast. That gap often creates frustration when the popular choice ends up on the bench. One former NFL star with Cleveland ties offered an inside view of why that has happened with the Browns this season.
Willie McGinest questioned the hype around Shedeur Sanders and why he hasn’t solidified the starting role with the Browns.
“Shedeur didn’t put the pressure on the position by coming into the league. I mean that by saying he wasn’t like a top pick. Mhm. Now, if you’re a No. 1 pick, if you’re a top 10 pick, then you put the pressure on the position right away. We don’t see practice, right? As players, we did. The average fan and other people, they don’t see practice. They don’t see who has command. They don’t see everything that people inside the building see. It always comes down to who gives us the best chance to win. I know there’s a lot of hype, and is the hype behind the name, or the lineage where you come from, or what you’re actually doing on the football field? At some point, if he’s doing what he needs to do on the football field, he’ll get an opportunity. Them being 4-2, them winning, and doing what they’re doing, showing they made the right decision,” McGinest said.
Deshaun Watson’s still got the keys… will Shedeur Sanders get his shot in Cleveland? 👀
Willie McGinest gets real about why Shedeur is yet to live up to the hype and solidify a starting role with the Cleveland Browns. pic.twitter.com/BNlYBvByI9
— ALL THE SMOKE (@allthesmokeprod) October 21, 2026
McGinest knows this organization from the inside. After winning 3 Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, he finished his career with the Browns from 2006 to 2008, so he understands how decisions get made in that building.
His point about draft position explains a lot. A top-10 quarterback arrives with an expectation that he will play right away. Sanders came to Cleveland as a 5th-round pick in 2025, so the Browns never had to force him onto the field before they believed he was ready.
He did get a chance as a rookie, starting 7 games last season. This summer, Todd Monken gave him a real shot to win the job in training camp, then chose Deshaun Watson even though many fans wanted the younger quarterback.
The results have backed up that decision. The Browns are 4-2 and lead the AFC North, and Watson leads the NFL with 4 game-winning drives. As McGinest said, winning is the strongest argument a coaching staff can make.
Sanders’ future is still a major storyline. He recently signed with an agent, and many believe it was to push for a trade. The Browns also have to decide by October 27 whether to activate Dillon Gabriel, which would give them 4 quarterbacks on the roster.
McGinest’s last point may be the most important one for Sanders. Watson is in the final year of his contract, and opportunities can appear quickly in the NFL. If Sanders keeps working and shows the staff what it needs to see, his chance could come sooner than expected.
NEXT: Analyst Sees A Familiar Finish For The Browns On Sunday
