Shedeur Sanders wrapped up his first NFL season with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals, as the Cleveland Browns finished the year, 5-12.
The fifth round NFL Draft pick out of Colorado was pleased with some aspects of his inaugural professional season, and frustrated by others. Sanders knows he isn’t assured the starting job in Cleveland in 2026. However, he’s motivated to make things work with the AFC North franchise.
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“I think I did what I was able to do, and I definitely grew from a lot of things, and I got experience now,” Sanders said at his end-of-season press conference. “So, I’m always the same, confidence-wise, I’m there. But like, that’s not in my hands. Like, that’s not my decision. I can’t speak on what other people feel.”
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12)’ surveys the field before an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Dec. 21, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.© Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
But while Sanders was happy with parts of his rookie season, he actually made some pretty embarrassing franchise history in Year 1.
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Sanders finished with the lowest QBR of any Cleveland Browns quarterback in franchise history, after starting the final stretch of the season.
Mel Kiper, though, remains high on Sanders
Kiper Jr., who was outraged by Sanders’ NFL Draft slide, is still confident in the quarterback’s professional future.
“I don’t know what else the kid needs to do. Everything about Shedeur Sanders screams he’s the quarterback. People were negative in April and they’re going to be negative now. They are gonna be like, ‘Oh, where’s he ranked?’ Forget that. Look at the interceptions that were off of Jerry Jeudy, off of Judkins’ shoulder, batted balls. Joe Burrow had one yesterday, are you blaming him for that? No. Are you going to blame Shedeur for that? You shouldn’t,” Kiper said. “When you look at what Shedeur did this year, not having any training camp, never with the 1s—defense or offense—he was thrown out there playing in brutal weather conditions. If you are gonna sit there and tell me you weren’t impressed with the rookie year of Shedeur Sanders, I would say you weren’t watching the same game I was.”
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The question, of course, is if the Browns are confident in him moving forward…
This story was originally published by The Spun on Jan 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.