Shedeur Sanders said his rookie season with the Browns taught him plenty about the NFL’s highs and lows. He learned you don’t win games on a single play and that building confidence comes from accumulating small wins.
Speaking on Up & Adams, Sanders said he’s constantly learning how to get where he wants to be. He added that this year proved to him he can take over games — he can complete throws, put the pieces together and flash at the position — but the next step is making that level of play consistent. “No matter what happens, you can go out there and compete,” he said.
After beginning the year behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel, Sanders settled into the lineup and finished the season with 1,400 passing yards and seven touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl nod. To maintain and build on that progress he’ll need to be more consistent, especially with added talent around him in 2026.
The Browns have hired offensive-minded coach Todd Monken, who will install a new system for Cleveland’s quarterbacks. With Dillon Gabriel healthy, Sanders is not guaranteed the Week 1 starting job, and the Browns enter the offseason with 10 picks in the 2026 draft, including Nos. 6 and 24 in the first round.
Fan take: Sanders’ growth matters because it shapes the Browns’ short-term QB picture and could influence how teams integrate high-profile rookies. With a new coach, a looming quarterback competition and a deep draft haul, Cleveland’s choices this offseason could have ripple effects across the league’s QB and offensive-coaching landscapes.
