There’s a strong desire among Cleveland Browns fans to have Shedeur Sanders appointed as their starting QB. Unfortunately, the Browns' front office has no intention of simply caving into public demand.

ESPN Cleveland radio host Emmet Golden, known on social media as @egoldie80, argued during The Next Level with Emmett, Jerod, and Nick that the Browns are operating entirely without public feedback.

"I don't think they are, because if they did take that [fan sentiment] into account, there would be no competition, it would be Shedeur," Golden said, per ESPN Cleveland on X.

Head coach Todd Monken is keeping the competition going into training camp. He has stated that Sanders has shown improvement in footwork and is closing the gap on Deshaun Watson. Monken has not made any declarations of a starter.

A starter's decision is often based on a player's performance during the previous season. Watson did not play in 2025 due to an injured Achilles, so he did not have any snaps during that season.

Sanders did play in 2025 and started seven games, throwing for 1,400 yards and getting seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions and had a QBR of 18.9.

During that season, Sanders had to adapt to subpar performance and support from the Browns' offensive line, which has seen a lot of changes since then.

With training camp opening July 28, the decisions will be based on his performance under pressure, not public opinion.

If Sanders doesn’t win the starting job, that will also spark related trade speculations, and the decision will also be more than just making the depth chart behind and in Cleveland.

The Browns are linked to the Shedeur Sanders trade involving the Cardinals

A new hypothetical trade proposal from Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox maps out a wild three-team preseason blockbuster that would send quarterback Shedeur Sanders out of Cleveland. Knox laid out the details of the deal.

"In this theoretical three-team deal, Arizona offloads Wilson to the always WR-needy Patriots while receiving draft compensation, along with second-year signal-caller Shedeur Sanders and Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte…The Patriots would complete a dynamic receiver trio comprised of Brown, Wilson, and Romeo Doubs," Knox wrote for Bleacher Report, per Brownswire.usatoday.com

The trade would have Sanders and a fourth-round selection head to Arizona and have Cleveland acquire Jacoby Brissett, who is in a contract dispute with the Cardinals, and a third-round selection from New England. 

Knox positioned Brissett as a veteran stopgap solution for Cleveland until the 2027 draft class, and not a long-term solution.

The Browns still have the power to make a decision. The competition among the quarterbacks will take place once training camp starts on July 28.

Who do you want as the starting QB? Shedeur or Deshaun? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore