The Cleveland Browns are entering the 2026 regular season with Deshaun Watson still atop the depth chart at quarterback and Shedeur Sanders sitting behind him at QB2. That arrangement has been a surprise to many, but Tony Grossi suggests the front office may already be thinking past this season when it comes to Sanders’ long-term future with the organization.
Grossi laid out his read on where things currently stand for Sanders within the organization.
“It appears Berry is building his future QB room from the back end first. Not optimal, but Jimmy Haslam insisted the organization would be patient in finding its next franchise quarterback hopeful. So what does this mean for Shedeur Sanders, who was judged not good enough to start ahead of Watson (yet) and perhaps not professional enough to be considered a valuable career backup? I think it means that Sanders will be given an opportunity next year to find a better situation for himself,” Grossi wrote.
Sanders could be eligible for a legitimate opportunity elsewhere if Cleveland determines its long term plans no longer include him as a primary piece. Sanders is entering just his second NFL season, and reporters around the team have consistently noted his talent even amid questions about fit and development within Todd Monken’s system.
For now, Watson is set to open the season as Cleveland’s starter, with Sanders continuing to work as the primary backup behind him as the Browns kick off their 2026 campaign. But Grossi’s column adds another layer to a storyline Browns fans have followed closely since Sanders arrived in Cleveland, and it suggests the front office may already be preparing contingency plans that extend well beyond this season. How Sanders responds to that uncertainty, both in practice and in whatever opportunities arise once the regular season gets underway, will likely shape how his time in Cleveland is ultimately remembered.
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