The Cleveland Browns have a few important decisions to make. Head coach Kevin Stefanski’s future in the franchise is one of them. But the most pressing issue is the quarterback call sheet.

The 2025 Browns’ issue with their starter is set to spill over into the 2026 season and has experts debating over it.

In an episode on The Tony Rizzo Show, host Rizzo stated his opinions on the issue and how he feels about rookie Shedeur Sanders. He said Sanders should earn the position of starting quarterback.

“I don’t want Sheduer to be the quarterback by default. I don't want the Browns to commit to Shedeur because of a draft position,” he said.

Rizzo stands firm on his opinion that the Browns should continue with Sanders only if they trust him to do so.

“Commit because you like him or don’t!” he stated. 

Expected to be a first-round draft pick, Sanders had slipped to the 5th round. His performance in this season has become a cause of contention among Browns fans.

While many disapproved of Stefanski’s decision to bench Sanders and let Dillon Gabriel start, his unreliable plays hindered the momentum he had going on. 

When asked about how the quarterback room would look in 2026, co-host Chris Oldach said it would consist of Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel.

An Odd Bag of Quarterbacks

While Sanders has scored seven interceptions for 1,289 yards across seven games, Gabriel made two touchdowns for 937 yards and two interceptions in 10 games. On the other hand, Sanders has been intercepted 10 times. 

There is a looming uncertainty about whether fans will accept Gabriel and Sanders together. In Week 15 against the Bills, Gabriel replaced Sanders for a while as the latter had to tend to an injured finger. Fans in the stadium, unaware of the situation, booed Gabriel as he came to play.

Add to that the Deshaun Watson situation. Browns’ owner Jimmy Haslam stated his regret over Watson’s trade. He called it a “swing and a miss” and said the Browns did not get the quarterback they were looking for. 

Watson signed a five-year contract with the Browns for $233 million. But in four years, he has only played 19 games due to an injury, and only recently came back to practice. He will stay with the Browns till 2026, with a salary cap of $80 million. 

Who among these three is most trustworthy for a team desperate for a reliable quarterback? 

After winning against the Steelers on Sunday, the Browns now have the sixth overall pick. Will they draft another quarterback and hope for the best, or pick a starter among the three and build an O-line to strengthen him?

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu