Shedeur Sanders gets major update on starting QB job with Browns

The Cleveland Browns have been pretty active since the NFL's free agency period opened.

One thing they haven't done, though, is change much about the QB depth chart that includes Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

Because of that, The Athletic's Zac Jackson provided a new update to the 2026 QB1 job in an article on Tuesday -- he sees Sanders in control of the race.

"At this still-early point, it seems safe to say that Sanders has at least some runway toward being the starter," Jackson writes.

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There certainly isn't a surefire starter out there in free agency, aside from Aaron Rodgers who will likely either return to the Steelers and retire.

Anyone else the Browns could still sign would be a veteran on the wrong side of the hill, like Russell Wilson or Carson Wentz.

That doesn't mean Sanders is a perfect solution, but he's who Cleveland has.

"Let’s save the wild takes and proclamations for what’s likely going to be an annual reboot of an open quarterback competition," Jackson writes. "But let’s also pencil Sanders in as the most likely of the current group to take the race wire-to-wire."

The Browns could make things even more confusing if they want and draft another QB, but this isn't a great class at that position.

Sanders will likely have to lose the job to not have it when Week 1 arrives.

"Where it all goes remains to be seen," Jackson writes. "But Sanders should get the first crack at things as Cleveland proceeds through the offseason. And though the Browns aren’t going to share any of their current evaluations or future thinking publicly, their lack of quarterback activity can be viewed as a partial endorsement of a plan that involves letting Sanders operate as the incumbent and prove to new coach Todd Monken that he’s worthy of further development."

Whether this is a vote of confidence in Sanders or just a reality check on the state of the position as far as available options, the Browns seem to be letting the young QB set up for another chance. He'll have to make the most of it.

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