Internal turmoil, losing against the worst team in the league, and millions of dollars stuck on a player who won't even play this season. The Browns certainly have it tough this season. However, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski did clear up one of their problems.

While some pointed at a disagreement between Stefanski and Sanders, the Browns coach announced on Monday that the rookie would be the starter for the rest of the campaign.

"He has constantly and consistently gotten better in each one of these games and how he's approached this game. He's been working very hard, so I feel good about where his development is heading. He knows there are always going to be plays that he can be better and those type of things. But he's very intentional about getting better each and every game he's out there."

There’s no debating his improvement. He started the season with a completion rate of 25% . Then he almost doubled in the very next game, and now averages 52.4%. 

In the game against the Titans, Sanders really proved that he deserved that role. He recorded 64 yards, three passing TDs, and a rushing TD, the first Browns QB since 1950 to hit 300+ pass yards, 3+ pass TDs, and a rush TD in one game.

Sanders also became the only QB besides Aaron Rodgers since 2000 with four 50+ yard completions in his first three starts. The rookie also joined Joe Burrow as the only rookies in the Super Bowl era to post 350+ yards, 3+ pass TDs, and a rush TD in a single game.

Now, with Shedeur Sanders securing the starting spot for this season, how will things look in 2026?

Will Shedeur Sanders be the starting QB Browns in 2026?

There’s nothing official on this, but reports from NFL insiders. Sanders' immediate competition was Dillion Gabriel. The fanbase heavily favors the latter, but that is not where his competition ends. 

Desahun Watson has returned to practice after injuring his Achilles twice.There is almost zero hope of him playing this season. But he is going to be on the Browns team next season. Why? Watson signed a 5-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal, which means his salary cap next season will be over $130 million before June 1st and $51 million after. And his 2026 salary ($46m) makes him almost untradable. 

With one QB guaranteed to be on the team, another NFL insider, Richard Jonhson, reported on X: “Browns QB Shedeur Sanders 'would almost certainly' request a trade if he is not given the starting job in the offseason."

So, it's quite an interesting situation in the Cleveland Browns for the 2026 season. Who do you think should be the starting QB for the Browns next season? Let us know in the comments. 

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar