Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has found his name floated in trade speculation throughout the offseason, even though the Browns have not shown any indication they plan to move him.
But with Deshaun Watson expected by many to start for Cleveland in 2026 and with next year’s quarterback class slated to be rife with talent, many feel a Sanders trade makes sense.
Will the Browns actually pull the trigger, though?
Multiple NFL executives have their doubts, telling Jason La Canfora of Sportsboom that they don’t see Cleveland moving the University of Colorado product.
“[Todd] Monken likes this kid,” one general manager said. “Why would they trade him now?”
The Browns hired Monken to be their head coach back in January, and while he has not committed to Sanders long term, he seems to like what the second-year signal-caller brings to the table.
“I don’t think he’s going anywhere,” another personnel exec said.
La Canfora added that Cleveland probably won’t look to trade Sanders unless it can raise his value. Remember: the Browns used a fifth-round draft pick on him in April 2025, and based on the way he played during his rookie season, they probably won’t get much more than that now.
Sanders played in eight games and made seven starts last season, throwing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 56.6 percent of his passes and posting a 68.1 passer rating.
Many expected the 24-year-old to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he slid all the way to Day 3. In fact, he wasn’t even the first quarterback Cleveland selected, as it picked Dillon Gabriel in the third round.
Watson is viewed as the favorite to win the Browns’ starting quarterback job heading into training camp, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Sanders won’t play this coming fall.
We’ll see what becomes of Sanders before Week 1.





