At this point in the Cleveland Browns season, the only things left that matter are not what fans want to actually talk about: NFL draft positioning, rumors of trading away older players and/or acquiring younger ones at the NFL trade deadline, and still looking for answers at the quarterback position.
Figuring out how to spend the Browns bye week might be more fun than any of those things.
With his name value and strong college seasons, QB Shedeur Sanders sitting behind QB Dillon Gabriel has led to
a lot of conversations, speculation, and social media drama. Sanders may have leaked Cleveland’s quarterback plan (probably not), as Gabriel’s struggles have led many to call for any kind of change at the quarterback position.
Our own Barry Shuck made the case for Sanders to start coming out of the bye week. The logic is sound, overall. Gabriel has struggled, Sanders played well in college and his first preseason action, the schedule gets a little easier, and it would be nice to see what the Browns have in Sanders before the 2026 NFL draft.
The counterpoint is that Sanders should not see the field until he is ready. In general, NFL teams think differently from fans and media, especially about the quarterback position.
Sanders may be ready physically, but still working on the more important aspects of the game. The Colorado offense he came out of was overly simple, at times, and had the “easy button” of Travis Hunter. NFL offenses are far more complicated (as are the defenses he will see), and Cleveland lacks any kind of “easy button” in the passing game at this point.
Not to mention an offensive line still trying to find itself.
While many questioned the decision to draft Gabriel in the third round, it seemed like the team saw a player with a chance to start and a potential long-term backup. The selection of Sanders by the Browns was a little different. Taking a flyer on a player that could be a starter but needed development, at least based on everything we heard, after selecting another quarterback two rounds earlier, is going to be treated differently.
With a season lost, potentially “ruining” both rookie quarterbacks doesn’t make sense. If Sanders is still picking up the nuances of calling out pass protections, going through his progressions, and/or making adjustments at the line of scrimmage, Gabriel should remain in the game. If the third-rounder starts to figure things out and improve, Sanders continues to develop behind the scenes.
If Gabriel continues to struggle and Sanders is ready to play, based on what the coaches are seeing in practice, then and only then should the fifth-rounder see the field.
The decision to play Shedeur Sanders is not about what the Browns need, what fans and media want, or even just about how Gabriel is playing. Predraft evaluations (Full disclosure: I was very high on Sanders coming out) said a variety of things, but most believed that Sanders could be a quality starter in the NFL. There is no need to risk that just because the fans are antsy, the coaching staff and/or front office might be feeling pressure, or Gabriel is not playing well.
That is all short-term thinking.
Starting Sanders is about what is best for Sanders. In the end, that is what is best for the organization and fans, but it requires long-term thinking.
