The Cleveland Browns entered training camp still searching for stability under center, and much of the focus has settled on second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders as a potential long-term solution.
Fans across the league have begun wondering whether the former Colorado standout can develop into the face of the franchise after a mixed rookie campaign. Sanders started seven games in 2025, connecting on 56.6 percent of his throws for 1,400 yards while throwing seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions. The numbers reflected an uneven introduction to the NFL that showed flashes of promise yet underscored clear areas for growth.
ESPN analyst Jordan Rodgers remains optimistic that Sanders possesses the tools to grow into a true franchise quarterback. Rodgers pointed to the young signal-caller’s football intelligence as a foundational strength that could help him progress.
“I think he can be a franchise quarterback in this league,” Rodgers said. “Absolutely! He’s always been exceptional between the ears – his ability to understand defenses, know where the football should go, operate a pro-style system. I think because he didn’t have much around him at Colorado, he developed some bad habits with his footwork. His urgency at times needs to be better.”
Those mechanical issues and occasional lack of urgency stood out during Sanders’ limited starts last season. Correcting them will be essential if he is to handle the demands of a full NFL schedule and consistently move the Browns’ offense.
Rodgers stopped short of projecting a breakout for 2026. Instead, he framed the upcoming year as a clarifying moment for the organization and its high draft capital.
“Best-case scenario for Cleveland is he’s either really good or really bad, because they got to figure out what the future is going to be with their first-round draft picks next year.”
That pragmatic view reflects the pressure surrounding Cleveland’s quarterback room. Despite the attention Sanders has drawn, he has not locked down the starting job for the season opener. He is locked in a competition with Deshaun Watson for the top spot on the depth chart as camp continues.
Sanders has described the dynamic inside the quarterback group as professional and mutually beneficial. He emphasized that both players are focused on individual improvement rather than external distractions.
“We’re both trying to be the best version of ourselves we could be. So we’re not going to let anything get in between of that. So it’s a level of respect that we all in the quarterback room have for each other,” Sanders said.
“And we’re not really emotional when it comes to things that we can’t control. We mainly focus on and thrive on getting better in the work every day. So if I like something he’s doing, I ask. If he likes something I do, then [he] asks. It’s conversation, and that’s what’s most effective.”
That collaborative approach may help both quarterbacks refine their games, yet only one will take the first snap when the regular season begins. Sanders must clearly outperform Watson throughout the remaining practices and preseason games if he hopes to open the year as the starter on Sept. 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Browns’ coaching staff will weigh accuracy, decision-making, footwork consistency and overall command of the offense in the coming weeks. Sanders’ ability to correct the habits noted by Rodgers could determine whether he seizes the opportunity or forces the team to keep evaluating other options.
Cleveland’s offensive supporting cast and scheme will also play roles in how quickly any progress becomes visible. A stronger supporting cast than Sanders experienced in college could allow his processing strengths to shine more clearly once mechanical refinements take hold.
For now, the training camp battle remains open. Every repetition, film session and preseason series will feed into the larger question of whether Sanders can become the steady presence the Browns have long sought at the position.
The organization has invested significant draft resources in recent years and cannot afford prolonged uncertainty. A decisive performance from Sanders would provide answers. Continued inconsistency would leave the team once again weighing its future at the most important position on the field.
As practices intensify, both the player and the franchise stand at a pivotal juncture. The coming weeks will offer the clearest indication yet of whether Shedeur Sanders is ready to claim the long-term role many supporters hope he can fill.
