‘Shedeur Sanders could become the franchise quarterback that the Cleveland Browns desperately need.
But while Deion Sanders’ son dominates NFL offseason news, an internal clock could already be ticking on the fifth-round draft pick.
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Shedeur Sanders could be fighting for his roster spot the next two seasonsCredit: Getty
Longtime Cleveland Browns insider Tony Grossi exclusively told talkSPORT that the organization is balancing the upcoming 2025 campaign with a potential franchise-changing draft in 2026.
Arch Manning (Texas), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) and Drew Allar (Penn State) top the early list of potential draft arms.
Grossi expects Sanders to eventually start for the Browns this year, even with four QBs currently on the depth chart and Deshaun Watson and his $230 million contract still part of the team.
But no matter what Sanders does on the field this season, a QB-heavy draft in 2026 might ultimately guide the Browns’ future.
“They have two first-round picks now in the 2026 draft as a result of trading with Jacksonville,” said Grossi, Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
“It’s going to be an epic quarterback draft. I tell my listeners, ‘Probably the future quarterback is in next year’s draft, to be honest with you, because it’s supposed to be really good.’
“And there are a bunch of guys – there are more than one. You don’t have to end up with the No. 1 pick in the draft next year to get a good quarterback. If you’re in the top 10, there are going to be enough to go around because other teams with quarterbacks will clutter that up.”
Cleveland finished 3-14 last year and was one of the worst teams in the NFL, while using Watson, Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe at QB.
The Browns’ projected win total for the 2025 season is five, according to multiple sites, which means that Cleveland could hold a top pick in the ‘26 draft.
The Jaguars were 4-13 last year, and traded a 2026 first-rounder to the Browns to take Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter in the recent draft.
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NFL teams are already lining up to draft Arch ManningCredit: Getty
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But Joe Flacco and Sanders are focused on winning with the Browns this yearCredit: Getty
The Chosen One?
Shedeur Sanders
Age: 23
Vitals: 6ft 2in, 215lb
College stats: 71.8 completion %, 7,364 yards, 64 TD, 13 INT, 160.4 rating
NFL Draft: No. 144 overall pick (fifth round) by Cleveland Browns
Depth chart: 4th (Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel)
Grossi on Sanders: “The Browns in the pre-draft process had no problem with the Shedeur Sanders experience. They are not one of the teams who thought he had an attitude.”
If Cleveland and Jacksonville struggle again this year, the Browns could possess two high picks – and potentially trade both selections to leap up to No. 1, which is where Manning will likely be taken.
The Browns’ focus on the 2026 draft was also recently shared by ESPN’s Peter Schrager.
“I know that this year is going to be very important for Shedeur and Dillon Gabriel, and the reason is they’re both third-round and fifth-round picks,” Schrager said on the Pat McAfee Show.
“When you have two first-round picks of teams that are not necessarily expected to be Super Bowl contenders, quarterback is always going to be looming in every conversation. So I think (the Browns) are going to want to get those guys action — Gabriel and Sanders.”
Grossi has Sanders listed fourth on Cleveland’s current depth chart, and expects veteran Joe Flacco to be the team’s Week 1 starter.
“We in Cleveland went on a magic carpet ride with Joe Flacco in 2023,” Grossi said.
NFL’s Greatest……
Ranking the top 10……
Shedeur Sanders issues four-word response to whether he’ll be Browns starting QB over Joe Flacco
“He came onto the team and, late November, the Browns were in the middle of a playoff chase and he put up incredible numbers – instant 300-yard passing games. They won four out of his five starts.”
With some Cleveland teammates still feeling strongly about the 40-year-old Flacco’s best traits and remembering his inspiring success with the Browns, Sanders must overcome emotion and reason to take over.
Gabriel was drafted 50 picks before Sanders, while Kenny Pickett is a former first-rounder and won Super Bowl LIX while backing up Jalen Hurts on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Which means that Sanders is battling for the Browns’ top spot in 2025, and he could face an even tougher internal challenge if Cleveland tops the draft in 2026.
Gross acknowledged that Sanders is being pushed by a legion of social media-savvy fans, but the Browns insider praised the early view of the fifth-round pick from Colorado.
“Shedeur is a hard worker,” Grossi said.
“He’s been very coachable. The Browns in the pre-draft process had no problem with the Shedeur Sanders experience. They are not one of the teams who thought he had an attitude. They loved him, which is one of the reasons they ended up taking him, even though they had taken Dillon Gabriel 50 spots earlier.”
If Flacco initially starts for the Browns, he’ll lead the team on Sunday, September 7 at home in a season opener against Joe Burrow‘s Cincinnati Bengals.
Sanders could appear on the field in London on Sunday, October 5, when Cleveland faces J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as part of the NFL’s International Series.
The Browns rookie was back in the news on Thursday after receiving a ticket for driving 101 mph.