Shedeur Sanders was not a top NFL quarterback this season. That part’s clear. But the amount of criticism he’s taken doesn’t match up with what actually happened on the field.
He was Cleveland’s most realistic option at quarterback from the start. Kevin Stefanski didn’t trust him early on, and the Browns limped to a 5-12 record because of it.
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Fans in Cleveland are left wondering what could’ve been different if Sanders had gotten his shot sooner.
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The noise only got louder after the season ended. Sanders made his first Pro Bowl as a replacement after injuries and opt-outs thinned out the roster. That’s when people really started going after him.
Fans and analysts questioned why he was there at all. Sure, talent alone didn’t earn him the spot, but the backlash still seems overblown. Even Deion Sanders Jr. has called it out.
Deion Sanders Jr. posted a clip from The Boondocks showing Thugnificent asking where all the anger comes from.
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“Man, what did he do to make them ni***s that mad?” The character said.
Critics say the Pro Bowl is more about popularity than performance. That’s been the knock on Sanders even as his season unfolded in unexpected ways.
He started as Cleveland’s fourth-string quarterback, sitting behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Then both veterans got traded. Gabriel went down with a concussion. Sanders ended up starting the final seven games.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) scrambles in the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
It wasn’t an easy situation. Stefanski’s offense was already struggling, and the rookie had to shoulder most of the blame when things went wrong. Sanders had his moments, but he also had rough stretches. It added up to just enough for a Pro Bowl invite.
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